AP

Posted: 2007-11-07 02:48:53

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 7 (Kyodo) – Newly appointed Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein plans to make his first tour to some ASEAN countries this week, aiming at showing his face ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit later this month in Singapore, an Asian diplomat told Kyodo News on Wednesday.

Thein Sein, who came to office late last month, plans a one-day visit to Laos on Thursday and to Vietnam on Friday through Saturday.

A visit he hoped to make to Cambodia on Saturday is unlikely to materialize because of national holidays in Cambodia, the diplomat added.

Myanmar’s government made the sudden decision send the new premier abroad only two days ago, the diplomat said.

Accompanying Thein Sein will be Nyan Win, the junta’s foreign minister, Soe Tha, minister of National Planning and Economic Development, and Brig. Gen. Tin Naing Thein, the minister of commerce.

Cambodian government sources said Cambodia has proposed Thein Sein visit after Nov. 13, but no reply has yet come from Myanmar.

A recent bloody crackdown on protests in Myanmar resulted in the deaths of scores of peaceful protesters, and a Japanese journalist, and strong reactions from of the world.

But Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, known as close, neighboring countries, took a softer stance on the junta.

The diplomat said Wednesday it remains unclear if Thein Sein will visit other members of the 10-country ASEAN before he is to attend the ASEAN Summit in Singapore later this month.