Japan, Vietnam and the European Union have agreed to look for ways to resolve the conflict over admitting Burma to the Asia-Europe Meeting later this year.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi met Friday in Jakarta to discuss the issue with her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Dy Nien, EU foreign and security chief Javier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten.
During talks on the sidelines of a series of ASEAN meetings, both sides emphasized the importance of a successful October summit in Hanoi.
ASEAN and the European Union are deadlocked over Burma's participation in the Asia-Europe meeting because of European concerns over Burma's human rights abuses.