The chairman of Myanmar's ruling party said Friday he will stand as national president if nominated, and is willing to cooperate with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, or anyone working in the interests of the country.

Shwe Mann, the speaker of Myanmar's parliament, also told a Washington think tank his party has "aspirations" to change the military-dominated constitution, but indicated time is running short ahead of November general elections.

His Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is comprised largely of former military officers and was created from a social movement set up by the former junta.