NAY PYI TAW, 20 Nov-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein attended the 19th ASEAN Summit Retreat Session held at Nusa Dua 3 of Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre (BNDCC) in Bali of Indonesia at 1.20 pm on 17 November.

Also present at the meeting were King Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Indonesian President Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Laotian Prime Minister Mr Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Singaporean Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, Vietnamese Prime Minister Mr Nguyen Tan Dung, the special representative of the Philippines President, ASEAN Secretary- General Dr Surin Pitsuwan and senior officials of ASEAN countries.

At the meeting, Alternate Chairman of the ASEAN host Chairman of the Republic of Indonesia Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivered an opening address.

Next, President U Thein Sein, Heads of State/ Government of ASEAN countries exchanged views on international and regional issues such as world economy, Middle East and North Africa, Korean Peninsula, natural disasters, Millennium Development Goals, protection of the rights of migrant workers and combating human trafficking. At the summit, President U Thein Sein explained progress of Myanmar and responsibilities to be taken for alternate chairman of the ASEAN in 2014.

ASEAN leaders recognized significant reforms of Myanmar and supported Myanmar's Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014. The President thanked them for support for Myanmar to take Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014.

MNA