The 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ meeting held on 10th and 11thof May 2014, an event that Myanmar President U Thein Sein described as a symbol of “unity and dedication for building a better future for the region and the peoples.” Myanmar, which holds the ASEAN rotating presidency this year, hosted the ASEAN summit for the first time since it joined the regional bloc in 1997.Themed “Moving forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community,” the summit reviewed the progress towards the realization of the ASEAN Community by the end of 2015 and discuss ways to overcome challenges in the process of economic integration. Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted a Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on Realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015 at the end of a two- day meeting, reaffirming their commitment to promoting regional cooperation and contributing towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region.

The Nay Pyi Taw declaration also called “to exercise self-restraint and non-use of force as well as refrain from taking actions that would further escalate tension and to work towards an early conclusion of the code of conduct.”

The declaration was adopted after extensive discussion and deliberations at the plenary and retreat sessions of the 24th ASEAN Summit by the leaders as they had exchanged views about the progress made in implanting the roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009- 2015) as well as other measures and commitments set out in various ASEAN declarations and plans of action.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to strengthen cooperation for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The Nay Pyi Taw declaration also called “to exercise self-restraint and non-use of force as well as refrain from taking actions that would further escalate tension and to work towards an early conclusion of the code of conduct.”