New Zealand's foreign minister has voiced concern about human rights conditions in Burma during a meeting with his Burmese counterpart in Manila.
Winston Peters told Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win on Tuesday that New Zealand is "deeply concerned" about the political and human rights situation in the military-led country.
Peters also expressed concern about what he said is Burma's lack of genuine reform. He urged the Burmese government to implement steps to move toward democracy.
Peters said restoring democracy would help Burma to rebuild its economy.
The two foreign ministers are in Manila for meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The remarks by Peters come as ASEAN is trying to do more to engage fellow-member Burma and find new ways to push it to reform.
Burma has long been a problem for the 10-nation group because of its poor human rights record and its detention of activists, including Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.