ASEAN summit starts in Myanmar

The leaders will also deliberate the ASEAN Community Post-2015 vision, and reiterate ASEAN commitment in its collective efforts for a single market and production base.

"It is also equally important to map a clear direction for the ASEAN Community beyond 2015 to keep it relevant to the changing global environment," the president said.

In this regard, ASEAN leaders should take into consideration the changing political environment and socio-cultural developments of the region and the world, he added.

Created in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Myanmar, which holds the ASEAN rotating presidency this year, is hosting the ASEAN summit for the first time since it joined the regional bloc in 1997.

The ASEAN Community comprises three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Each pillar has its own blueprint, and together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they form the roadmap for the ASEAN Community (2009-2015).