President Barack Obama has held talks with Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as questions in the Southeast Asian nation mount over the direction and pace of democratic reforms ahead of 2015 elections.

Aung San Suu Kyi told a news conference after the meeting Friday that the reform process in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, is “going through a bumpy patch” and warned against too much optimism that could lead to complacency. She described the country’s constitution as “unfair, unjust and undemocratic.” 

Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to Myanmar’s parliament in 2012, and her supporters have since sought a constitutional amendment that would allow her to seek the presidency next year.

Myanmar’s constitution bars anyone with strong attachments to a foreign national from running for the presidency. Aung San Suu Kyi’s sons are British, as was her late husband. But she has also come under criticism for not taking a tougher public stance against the abuse of Myanmar’s mostly Muslim Rohingya minority.

Obama told reporters that it makes no sense for the constitution to bar people from running for president because of who their family members are.

President Obama on Thursday voiced confidence about what he called a “new day” in Myanmar, while warning that more work is needed to complete the transition from decades of military dictatorship to full democracy.

His comments came in talks with legislative leaders in the capital, Naypyitaw. He described the meeting as an excellent review of progress toward democracy since 2010, while calling for the government to do more to protect human rights. 

Obama also held private talks with Myanmar President Thein Sein.

The U.S. presidential visit is taking place during a meeting of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is the first time the annual summit is being hosted in Myanmar.

The U.S. leader is also participating in a separate forum known as the East Asia Summit. That gathering includes the 10 ASEAN countries plus eight other nations, including the United States, China, Russia and India.

The White House issued a statement Thursday announcing a new job program to improve Myanmar’s labor reform efforts, including legislative efforts to prioritize legal changes.
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