NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has called on the folks of the country to join hands to build a democratic federal republic in unity with new thoughts and new opinions.

In her message to the ongoing Ethnic Sustainable Development Forum which began in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday, Aung San Suu Kyi said "Only when we give priority to development of ethnic people and ethnic areas, can national reconciliation and unity of the union be achieved with pragmatic fruit of development."

She recalled that cooperation of ethnic people played an important role in struggle for independence after the country fell under colonial rule.

However, she pointed out that after regaining independence, lack of trust and armed conflicts among the ethnic races for decades had resulted in the country's lagging behind in development in the political, economic and social sectors compared with neighboring countries.

While the government is striving with ethnic brethren for bringing national reconciliation and eternal peace back to the union, Aung San Suu Kyi said negotiations are being conducted at the meetings of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference with ethnic people for power sharing, land and natural resources management, taxation and regional development as part of the efforts for emergence of basic principles for a future federal republic.

She added that some agreements were reached and signed as part of the union agreements and further negotiations are being made.

Myanmar's ethnic nationalities include Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan who have been living in the union since time immemorial.

The two-day Ethnic Sustainable Development Forum was opened by Vice President U Henry Van Thio.