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s the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrates its 47th anniversary this year, with plans to implement the single market by the end of 2015, all member states need to move forward and persistently develop the association into a dignified regional grouping.

Myanmarese President Thein Sein made the call during the opening of the 46th ASEAN Economic Ministers'€™ Meeting and Related Meetings in Naypyidaw on Monday.

In his speech, the president encouraged ASEAN member states to make collective efforts for the region'€™s economic integration through the free flow of goods, services, investment, skilled workers and capital.

'€œI believe the efforts on tariff liberalization and the establishment of the ASEAN Single Window will enhance trade flows across and beyond the region,'€ Thein Sein said.

The region'€™s initiative to become a single economic entity was first proposed at an ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1997, during which state leaders declared the ASEAN Vision 2020.

The vision has also helped pave the way for the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is due to come into effect by the end of 2015.

In addition, President Thein Sein said, in a bid to make the region into a prosperous and developed community three priority areas should be the focus for action: namely, improving the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), enhancing public-private partnerships (PPPs) and taking ASEAN and the AEC beyond 2015.

Thein Sein also welcomed cooperation in the health sector and mutual recognition agreements among ASEAN states, particularly those pertaining to accountancy and investment.

Among the agreements expected to be signed during the 46th ASEAN Economic Meeting and Related Meetings are those on medical-device directives, accountancy services and a number of agreements with partner countries.

Separately, the Indonesian Trade Ministry'€™s director general for international trade cooperation, Bachrul Chairi, highlighted some of the challenges ahead of the implementation of the AEC next year.

They include the slow progress among member states in reaching agreement on lowering non-tariff barriers for trade within ASEAN, as well as the slow liberalization of skilled workers.

'€œThe effort to narrow the [development] gaps among member states and to promote growth in several economic zones is also a challenge,'€ Bachrul wrote in a report to be presented at the meeting.

Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi joined economic ministers from other ASEAN countries on Monday afternoon to discuss progress on ASEAN'€™s Trade in Goods Agreement, tariff liberalizations, the elimination of non-tariff barriers, rules of origin and measures on the facilitation of intra-ASEAN trade, among other things.