He did not say if it was US President Bush who was invited by Manila or US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the US was invited by President Arroyo as guest of the host. Russia, which has applied for membership during the inaugural meeting in Kuala Lumpur last year, is also not attending the meeting.

“I think we will just send some observers from the US Embassy in Manila to attend the meeting," Lussenhop said.

The EAS brings together leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations- Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar -plus dialogue partners China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India.

Trade and security issues are high on the EAS’ agenda in this year’s meeting. The European Union, France and Timor Leste are also expected to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) during the summit.

All dialogue partners are signatories to the TAC, one of the requirements before any country could join the EAS.

The US has not acceded to the TAC.

According to Lussenhop, Washington has no immediate plan to join the new regional group but will continue to monitor developments in the EAS.

“We have stated in the past that the US has no objection to it (EAS) and there is no problem with it. However, we will see what kind of forum it will develop and evolve," he said.

The EAS is seen as a precursor of a pan-Asia summit which promises to be “open, inclusive, transparent, and forward-looking.”

Together, the 16 members of the EAS represent half of the world’s population and a fifth of global trade in 2005. Michaela P. del Callar.