As India prepares to host the G10 foreign ministers’ meeting next month, ASEAN’s stance on engaging with Myanmar at multilateral forums is apolitical, media reports said on Monday.

India is unlikely to invite Myanmar’s foreign minister to the meeting, but the media reported an official could be invited. It is reported that India has maintained contact with ASEAN on various aspects of hosting the foreign ministers’ meeting, including issues related to Myanmar.

Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup on February 1 last year, imposing a state of emergency after detaining Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD). After the coup, there were massive protests in the country. The international community has been harshly critical of the coup. Myanmar has been an important member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

After the coup, India pushed for a return to democracy in Myanmar. At the same time, India has not boycotted the Myanmar government or its officials. Myanmar, one of India’s strategic neighbours, shares a 1,640 km border with north-eastern states, including the armed states of Nagaland and Manipur.

The 10-nations ASEAN is considered one of the most influential groups in the region, with India and several other countries, including the US, China, Japan and Australia, as its dialogue partners. Relations between India and ASEAN have been on the rise over the past few years, focusing on enhancing cooperation in trade and investment and security and defence.