The European Union is threatening Burma with additional sanctions if it does not release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi before the start of this week's Asia-Europe Meeting, or ASEM.
EU leaders say they agreed to attend this year's summit only after confirming that Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt would not attend the meeting in Hanoi.
Last month, EU foreign ministers said they would expand the current EU visa ban for senior Burmese officials, and ban EU firms from financing Burmese companies, if the Rangoon government failed to improve its human rights record.
ASEM brings together member nations of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as China, Japan and South Korea.
Thirteen new members will be attending this year, including 10 new EU countries and Burma, Cambodia and Laos.
Information for this report is provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.