Asean will not object a lower-level Burma delegation to the Asia-Europe (Asem) summit in Vietnam because it does not want it to fail, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today.

He was commenting on a remark by Thailand's Foreign Minister, Surakiart Sathirathai, who said Wednesday the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would be satisfied if Burma sent Foreign Minister Win Aung.

European Union (EU) states agreed earlier this month to attend the Oct 8-9 summit in Hanoi but said they did not want to see the top leaders of emilitary-ruled Burma there.

"We do not want the Asia-Europe summit to fail. There is a bigger picture for us to achieve. The level of representation is not the fundamental issue," Syed Hamid told reporters.

"There is a need for Asia and Europe to work closely together for mutual benefit."

But Syed Hamid said it was up to Burma to decide on the level of representation and nobody should set conditions for the admission of new members into the Asem process.

Asean had wanted its newest members - Cambodia, Laos and Burma - to be included in the summit in return for the participation of 10 new EU members who joined in May.

Tightening sanctions

The EU Monday warned Burma's top leaders not to try to attend the Asem summit, saying it could make the meeting "difficult" for all sides.

The EU has also threatened to tighten existing sanctions unless Rangoon takes steps to improve its human rights record.

Burma, now officially known as Myanmar, launched a national political convention earlier this year which it billed as the first step in its "roadmap" to democracy.

The earlier EU refusal to let Burma attend the summit - grouping the EU and 10 members of Asean plus China, Japan and South Korea - had threatened to scotch the meeting.

In particular the EU lamented the continued house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, and Burma's refusal to allow her party, the National League for Democracy an unfettered role in the convention.

Burma is due to take over the chair of Asean in 2006 despite showing little progress in democratic reforms.

Syed Hamid said the topics to be discussed at the meeting included economic issues, trade, investment, terrorism, education and culture.

"Europe can play a constructive role to promote the prosperity of our area," he said.