ASEAN agrees to renewed engagement with Myanmar

ASEAN foreign ministers have agreed to resume engagement with Myanmar, with a virtual meeting with the country's foreign minister expected in the near future.

The move marks a fresh diplomatic opening after Myanmar was largely sidelined from top-level ASEAN meetings following the 2021 military coup.

Kao Kim Hourn said Myanmar had indicated it wanted to normalise ties with the 11-member bloc.

He said neighbouring states still wanted to see progress on de-escalation, dialogue and access for aid before ties could move further.

He said the ministers had agreed on the virtual meeting during the ASEAN summit in the Philippines on Thursday.

He also said discussion was continuing on whether to create a special envoy for Myanmar with a remit lasting beyond one year.

The development matters because ASEAN has struggled to maintain a common approach to Myanmar's crisis since the coup and the civil conflict that followed.

Any renewed contact could shape how the bloc handles pressure for political talks and humanitarian access.

Myanmar has been kept at arm's length from many high-level ASEAN gatherings since the military takeover in 2021.

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