NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — A peace conference convened to find a way to end decades of ethnic conflict in Myanmar concluded Saturday without any breakthroughs, but the country’s leader contended that it was a step toward resolving intractable disputes.

At the closing ceremony, Myanmar’s leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, expressed optimism about the peace process despite disagreements among delegates at the conference, including ethnic rebel groups and members of the government, political parties and the military.

“During the conference, some delegates openly criticized and attacked others,” Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi said. “But we shouldn’t worry about that. We should worry about pretending we don’t have a problem.”

The military controlled Myanmar for five decades before some democratic changes were initiated in 2011 by U Thein Sein, then the president. Last year, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, took power after winning national elections.