Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations say they will recommend to their leaders that military-dominated Burma be allowed to chair their regional bloc in 2014.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters Wednesday there is consensus that Burma — also known as Myanmar — deserves the diplomatic prize after a series of conciliatory moves.

Burma was forced to relinquish its turn at ASEAN's rotating presidency in 2006 after strong criticism of its human rights record.

Critics have warned that allowing Burma to lead the 10-member regional group and host the wider East Asia Summit in 2014 could remove the incentive for more fundamental change.

Other topics discussed by the foreign ministers included the establishment of the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation, the Implementation of the declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

China, Taiwan and four ASEAN members — the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam — have overlapping claims to portions of the South China Sea.