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Burma focus for Asia-Europe talks Burma rebuts critics before talks
(about 5 hours later)
Asian and European foreign ministers are meeting in Hanoi, with Burma's trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to dominate the talks. Burma has "strongly rejected" regional condemnation of the trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as talks open between Asian and European ministers.
The trial has provoked outrage in the EU, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has urged Burma's junta to release Ms Suu Kyi. The junta accused Thailand, current chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), of interfering in Burma's internal affairs.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) is also expected to discuss the global economic slowdown over the next two days. Asean last week expressed "grave concern" over the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi, a rare step by the group.
The talks in Vietnam's capital will also focus on climate change. Burma's actions are likely to dominate the Asia-Europe meeting (Asem).
Representatives of 45 nations - the EU, the Asean, China, Japan, South Korea, India and Pakistan - are taking part in the talks. "This statement issued by the alternate Asean chairman -- which is not in conformity with Asean practice, incorrect in facts, interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar -- is strongly rejected by Myanmar," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported said, using its own name for Burma.
China's role "It is sadly noted that the alternate Asean chairman failed to preserve the dignity of Asean, the dignity of Myanmar and the dignity of Thailand," said the statement, which was also carried on state-run television and radio.
Earlier this month, Ms Suu Kyi was put on trial for breaking the terms of her house arrest. She faces up to five years in jail. East meets West?
Ministers from 45 nations - the EU, the Asean, China, Japan, South Korea, India and Pakistan - are taking part in talks in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
Discussions are expected to cover the global economy, climate change, and Burma.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is on trial on charges of violating her house arrest after an incident in which an American man swam to her house. She faces up to five years in jail.
Despite the outrage over the charges, EU foreign ministers last week failed to agree on new sanctions against Burma's military rulers.Despite the outrage over the charges, EU foreign ministers last week failed to agree on new sanctions against Burma's military rulers.
Profile: Aung San Suu KyiProfile: Aung San Suu Kyi
Instead, they hinted that they would urge Asian nations with close ties to Burma to put more pressure on the junta to implement democratic reforms.
Asean last week warned Burma - who is a member of the organisation - that Ms Suu Kyi's trial puts the country's "honour and credibility" at stake.Asean last week warned Burma - who is a member of the organisation - that Ms Suu Kyi's trial puts the country's "honour and credibility" at stake.
But Thailand - who currently chairs Asean - said the group would not change its position of engagement with Burma. But Thailand - who currently chairs Asean - said the group would not change its position of engagement with Burma and China has flatly refused to get involved.
Meanwhile, China has flatly refused to get involved. Diplomats say the division between Asian nations and the West over Burma has also caused frustration in economic matters, the BBC's Nga Pham in Hanoi says.
Being the main ally of the Burmese junta, as well as the dominant players in the region, China has a decisive say in the matter, the BBC's Nga Pham in Hanoi says.
Diplomats say the division between Asian nations and the West over Burma has also caused frustration in economic matters, our correspondent says.
She adds that the current sanctions against Burma are preventing the EU from signing a free trade deal with Asean.She adds that the current sanctions against Burma are preventing the EU from signing a free trade deal with Asean.