Gillard raises concerns with Burma over 'ethnic cleansing'

Julia Gillard in talks with Burmese president Thein Sein. Picture:Howard Moffat/AUSPIC Source: Supplied

FEARS over "ethnic cleansing" in northern Myanmar have prompted Julia Gillard to express concern at the fate of the country's ethnic minorities even as Australia extends a welcome to the country's president.

The Prime Minister used a bilateral meeting with Burmese president Thein Sein on Monday to express concern at the unrest as the issue overshadowed a meeting that sought to repair ties between the two countries.

Ms Gillard emphasised the positive steps in Burma, however, and invited Mr Sein - who has led the government since last year after a career as a military commander - to Australia in December. The visit is expected to take place on 10-12 December.

In the first bilateral meeting between Australian and Myanmar leaders since 1984, Ms Gillard congratulated Mr Sein for his personal leadership in the country's reforms, which included the release of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Australia is responding to the reform by lifting sanctions and increasing aid, which is expected to double by 2015.

Sources said Ms Gillard encouraged further steps in human rights reforms, including for ethnic minorities.

Ethnic clashes have led to mountain attacks this year on some of the estimated one million Muslim Royingyas who live near the border of Myanmar and Bangladesh in the state of Rakhine.

Ms Gillard told reporters earlier that Myanmar needed to do more on human rights.

"More needs to happen - more needs to happen on questions like human rights for ethnic minorities, so there is more to do, but we should be welcoming the journey that is being undertaken in Myanmar," Ms Gillard told reporters in Vientiane before the bilateral meeting.

Ms Gillard noted that Australia had already lifted sanctions on Burma and was increasing ties with the nation, noting the trade mission there last week by Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten and business executives.

The bilateral meeting with the Myanmar leader was one of several at the Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM, being held in the Lao capital of Vientiane on Monday and Tuesday.

The Prime Minister is expected to hold other meetings on Monday including bilateral meetings with Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, French president Francois Hollande and Pakistan prime minister Pervez Ashraf.

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