Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar's upcoming visit to Burma will only be meaningful if he meets the nation's detained pro-democracy leader Aung Sann Syu Kyi, said her party.

According to a wire report, the National League for Democracy (NLD) welcomed the decision by Asean to send Syed Hamid to the country, which is under military rule.

The party expressed hope that he will meet the NLD and ethnic groups so he can fully assess the country's political situation.

"It is necessary for the Asean envoy to meet Aung Sann Syu Kyi so that the visit will be meaningful," it was quoted as saying in the AP report.

The ruling military junta, which has not allowed even UN special envoy Razali Ismail into the country since 2004 had agreed to Syed Hamid's visit following intense pressure from last week's Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur.

The foreign minister will make the visit in Malaysia's capacity as the Asean chair.

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Myanmar had become a member of Asean in 1997 after strong support from Malaysia. Over the years, the bloc has been criticised for defending the nation's lack of democracy and human rights.

Syu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate, has been under house arrest since May 2003. Her house arrest was extended by six months in November.

During his vist, Syed Hamid is expected to assess the progress of Burma's democratic reforms. Asean has also demanded that his delegation be allowed to meet her.

However, the junta has not replied on this.

The military has been ruling the country since 1988. They held an elections in 1990 but refused to hand over power to Suu Kyi's party despite a landslide victory.