Leaders gathered in Myanmar's capital Wednesday for the Association of South-East Asian Nations summit, with the focus expected to be on economic ties and regional territorial disputes, according to dpa. Myanmar President U Thein Sein opened the summit with a call for greater integration for the 10-nation bloc, while also praising members for realizing plans for the ASEAN Economic Community. A meeting backed the Naypyidaw Declaration made earlier this year which pledged to "intensify our efforts in realising the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015." The reaffirmed declaration also outlined plans for a more integrated community after 2015 as well as the promotion of peace and democracy within the region. ASEAN leaders also recognized the seriousness of the situation in the South China Sea and vowed to find a peaceful solution to the territorial disputes. The meeting closed proceedings by adopting measures to strengthen the ASEAN Secretariat and issued a joint statement promising to combat climate change.
