The Food and Agriculture Organisation said the outbreak in Burma is more serious than expected. The disease was widespread in areas near Mandalay and Sagaing. Burma has culled more than 470,000 birds and closed some 400 farms recently.

"The important thing is we should have transparency and cooperation in dealing with this deadly disease, which can rapidly spread across neighbouring countries," Kantathi told reporters. Asean countries must not cover up the outbreak of bird flu and must share information openly, he said.

A number of countries in the region have successfully contained the disease but Asean should step up measures to prevent further outbreaks, he said.

During a summit of the Ayeyawaddy-Chao Phrya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in November last year, Thailand led the establishment of a fund worth US$2.5 million (Bt94 million) to fight bird flu.

Members of ACMECS including Thailand, Laos, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam will share information and seek cooperation with other Asean members to deal with and prevent further outbreaks, Kantathi said.

Asean ministers will also discuss the political situation in Burma to seek ways to speed up national reconciliation and democratisation - along with the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar visited Rangoon on March 23-24 as an Asean special envoy to check on the latest developments. He will brief his Asean counterparts on the mission, which he has described as "incomplete" as he failed to meet all the "stakeholders" in Burmese politics, including Suu Kyi.

Kantathi said Asean ministers would put forward ideas on how to move the reforms ahead to establish democracy and secure Burma's full participation in the international community.

Asean last year forced the junta to forgo the rotating chairmanship of the group and urged the military-ruled country to speed up political reform.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Ubud, Indonesia