第24届东盟峰会在缅甸首都内比都举行。这是缅甸1997年加入东盟以来首次主办东盟峰会。
The 24th Association for Southeast Asian Nations Summit is now being held in the country’s capital Nay Pyi Taw.
It is the country’s first time to play host to a summit since it joined ASEAN in 1997. Myanmar’s President U Thein Sein and his wife welcomed the leaders of the ASEAN members. He also delivered a speech Sunday at the leaders’ meeting, saying that the gathering signifies unity and dedication for building a better future for the region.
This year’s summit theme is "Moving Forward in Unity to A Peaceful and Prosperous Community". It stresses the importance of a united ASEAN. More than 80 percent of the process to establish the ASEAN integration by 2015 has been completed.
In order to create an ASEAN Economic Community or AEC and Free Trade Area, six out of ten ASEAN nations are now ready to join AEC in 2015 ". Myanmar will join AEC in 2018, as it needs more time to make preparations.
