UNITED Nations Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit Thailand in December to meet with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Myanmar is a member.

An invitation to attend the ASEAN-UN summit, scheduled for December 18 in Bangkok, was extended to Mr Ban during a meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers at UN headquarters in New York on September 29.

The summit will be held on the sidelines of the annual summit of ASEAN leaders, at which Myanmar is expected to be represented by Prime Minister General Thein Sein.

Following his meeting in Bangkok, Mr Ban is also expected to visit Myanmar to hold talks on the country’s political situation.

During a previous visit to Yangon, Mr Ban’s special envoy, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, reportedly said the UN chief would visit Myanmar in the third week of December.

It will be Mr Ban’s second visit to Myanmar this year, having traveled to the country in May to hold talks on relief operations for victims of cyclone Nargis.

Thailand, which currently holds the rotating chair of ASEAN, said it was ready to host the summit from December 15 to 18.