Myanmar announced last week plans to hold a nationwide referendum in May 2008 and general multiparty parliamentary elections in 2010.
"Setting a clear timeframe for political reform in Myanmar, as laid out in the well-known roadmap [to democracy] and designed to ensure a transition to civilian rule, will alleviate tensions that are being ratcheted up by certain countries around the so-called Myanmar issue," the ministry said.
However, the United States said the referendum idea pointed to a "lack of seriousness."
"The Burmese junta's announcement that it will hold a referendum on a new Constitution in May demonstrates its lack of seriousness about an open and fair process for the restoration of democracy," said White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino.
She said the drafting process for the Constitution did not incorporate the views of opposition parties or all ethnic groups, "nor does this timeframe allow for adequate debate on the pros and cons of the proposed Constitution, which has not yet been shared with the Burmese public."
The country's ruling military junta said in December it had started writing a national Constitution, as part of Myanmar's "roadmap to democracy," which has been dismissed by Western powers as a scheme to keep the regime in power.
Myanmar's Constitution was suspended almost 20 years ago when the military junta seized control of the country.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, came under intense international pressure in September over the junta's violent crackdown on protests in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) led by Buddhist monks. At least 15 people were killed by security forces, and thousands were arrested in the weeks following the protests.
