Following the success of the joint Myanmar-ERIA-Harvard Symposium on "Maximizing AEC Benefits towards a Peaceful and Prosperous Community: Achievements and Prospects" held in Nay Pyi Taw on 29 October 2014.

Professor Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), together with senior officials and economists of ERIA, paid a courtesy call on H.E. U Nyan Tun, Vice President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, on 30 October 2014, and reported on the outcomes of the recently concluded symposium.

Handing over the Report of the Symposium to the Vice President, Prof. Nishimura then briefly explained the key outcomes and recommendations of the symposium.

The Vice President thanked Prof. Nishimura and said that "Myanmar has been accelerating the AEC measures, focusing on SME, PPP and post-2015 vision as Chair Country." He expressed his appreciation on the useful discussions made on these topics during the symposium. He added that SME development is very important and noted on the usefulness of and the realistic analysis made in the ASEAN SME Policy Index study which has been published recently by ERIA and the OECD.

ERIA has been supporting Myanmar's chairmanship of the ASEAN through the provision of policy recommendations during various ASEAN meetings and the conduct of big events and capacity building seminars. In this regard, the Vice President extended his and his Government's gratitude and appreciation to ERIA for all the latter's efforts in helping in the development of Myanmar. He also noted that ERIA's research works are very crucial for ASEAN community building by 2015 and beyond.

Finally, Prof. Nishimura said that he expects the outcomes and recommendations of the symposium Report to be useful to all ASEAN member countries and to further contribute to the success of Myanmar's chairmanship of the ASEAN.