An informed source told The Nation the summit on September 5 would commemorate 30 years of US-Asean relations. The Asean bloc was formed 40 years ago.

The meeting was agreed during a recent visit to Washington by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Bush met with Asean leaders on the sides of previous Apec conferences, including the one in Busan, South Korea in 2005.

Asean wants to establish an Asean-plus-one process that includes key major powers including China, India and Russia as dialogue partners.

The source could not confirm the inaugural Asean-US summit would be institutionalised. Although both sides enjoy coopertion and have established seven frameworks, in comparison, China and Asean have 48.

Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont will attend and is scheduled to meet with Bush. This was discussed during the visit of Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill to Thailand. Thai-US ties suffered following the coup last September. US lawmakers criticised Thailand and expressed concern over the restriction of press freedoms in the country.

The source said Burma would be included in the Singapore meeting. At previous meetings, junior-level officials represented Burma.