U.S. President Barack Obama among world leaders gathering for the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw on Thursday (November 13) as the East Asia Summit kicks off.
The East Asia Summit brings together the 10 ASEAN nations and the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.
Obama is expected to use talks with Myanmar President Thein Sein to push for changes to the apartheid-like living conditions of Myanmar's ethnic Rohingya minority, as well as democratic reform.
Myanmar's military-drafted constitution bars opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president. Obama will meet Suu Kyi in the city of Yangon on Friday (November 14).
ASEAN groups together Myanmar, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos and Malaysia, which will host the meetings next year.
