Southeast Asian leaders call on Western countries to lift punitive sanctions imposed on Burma in the wake of recent democratic reforms.

China is calling on Western countries to immediately lift sanctions on Burma, also known as Myanmar, in the wake of byelections won by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party.

Southeast Asian leaders call for Western countries, including the European Union, to lift punitive sanctions imposed on Burma immediately, now that the once-pariah nation has embraced democratic reforms.

Burma has freed several prominent political prisoners, meeting a key condition set by Western countries for easing sanctions against the country.