The foreign ministers of ASEAN has issued a joint statement relating to sectarian violence in the Rakhine state in western Myanmar.

Myanmar police deploy in Rakhine State

The Foreign Minister reiterated their strong support for the country’s democratization process. The statement said they will closely follow the Rakhine situation and implement humanitarian aid here. The ASEAN foreign ministers "underlined that the promotion of national solidarity and harmony among the various communities in Myanmar constitute an integral part of Myanmar's ongoing democratization and reform process. They expressed confidence and expectation that Myanmar will continue to remain consistent with its commitment on the irreversibility of the democratization and reform process in the country. The statement was released following President Thein Sein’s decision to form a commission to investigate the causes of the recent sectarian violence.