This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6260755.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Burma asked to speed up reforms Burma asked to speed up reforms
(about 3 hours later)
Nine south-east Asian countries have called on Burma to speed up the process of national reconciliation and release of political prisoners.Nine south-east Asian countries have called on Burma to speed up the process of national reconciliation and release of political prisoners.
Their leaders made the call at the annual summit of leaders of Asean (the Association of South East Asian Nations), of which Burma is a member.Their leaders made the call at the annual summit of leaders of Asean (the Association of South East Asian Nations), of which Burma is a member.
A BBC correspondent says the statement reflects embarrassment at Burma's failure to make democratic progress.A BBC correspondent says the statement reflects embarrassment at Burma's failure to make democratic progress.
But it is unlikely to have much impact as Asean influence on Burma is waning.But it is unlikely to have much impact as Asean influence on Burma is waning.
The 10 nations meeting on the central Philippine island of Cebu - Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - earlier reached several agreements.The 10 nations meeting on the central Philippine island of Cebu - Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - earlier reached several agreements.
They agreed to form a closer political unit and to bring in a free trade zone by 2015, as well as a counter-terrorism pact obliging them to share information.They agreed to form a closer political unit and to bring in a free trade zone by 2015, as well as a counter-terrorism pact obliging them to share information.
Mild criticismMild criticism
BBC south-east Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says there was a time when Asean gatherings said nothing about Burma due to a long-held agreement among its members not to comment on each others internal affairs.BBC south-east Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says there was a time when Asean gatherings said nothing about Burma due to a long-held agreement among its members not to comment on each others internal affairs.
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS BruneiBurmaCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeThailandVietnamASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS BruneiBurmaCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeThailandVietnam
But the failure of Burma's military government to make any meaningful progress towards democratic rule means that these days it is not unusual to hear mild criticism expressed by other south-east Asian governments, he said.But the failure of Burma's military government to make any meaningful progress towards democratic rule means that these days it is not unusual to hear mild criticism expressed by other south-east Asian governments, he said.
At their summit in the Philippines, they called on Burma to speed up national reconciliation and to free more political prisoners, of which there are thought to be at least 1,100.At their summit in the Philippines, they called on Burma to speed up national reconciliation and to free more political prisoners, of which there are thought to be at least 1,100.
But China and India - not other Asean states - are now Burma's most important diplomatic and trading partners and neither is interested in upsetting those ties by criticising the way the country is run, our correspondent says.But China and India - not other Asean states - are now Burma's most important diplomatic and trading partners and neither is interested in upsetting those ties by criticising the way the country is run, our correspondent says.
A threat to expel Burma from Asean would probably carry more weight but that cannot happen until the association has a charter that binds its members to certain standards of governance, like the European Union.A threat to expel Burma from Asean would probably carry more weight but that cannot happen until the association has a charter that binds its members to certain standards of governance, like the European Union.
At this summit they are for the first time actually talking about such a charter.At this summit they are for the first time actually talking about such a charter.
But agreeing to adopt one will certainly take many more years, as there are other Asean states whose democratic credentials are little better than Burma's, our correspondent adds.But agreeing to adopt one will certainly take many more years, as there are other Asean states whose democratic credentials are little better than Burma's, our correspondent adds.
China, South Korea, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are to hold meetings with the Asean leaders on Cebu up to Monday.China, South Korea, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are to hold meetings with the Asean leaders on Cebu up to Monday.
Meanwhile, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is to visit Japan in April, in a trip agreed at the Asean summit.
It is the latest attempt to improve strained relations between the two countries.
Correspondents say Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sought to repair ties with China since taking over from his predecessor.