Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will travel to Myanmar for talks next month, becoming the first international leader to visit the country since the military seized power. Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia with an iron grip for over three decades, pledged to 'work with' the Myanmar junta.

Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin held talks with Hun Sen in Phnom Penh and formally extended the invitation. Eang Sophalleth, spokesman for the Cambodian strong man, said the visit is scheduled for January 7 and 8.

The invitation comes as Cambodia attempts to bring Myanmar back into the fold of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after a humiliating snub by the regional bloc. In an unprecedented move, ASEAN barred junta chief Min Aung Hlaing from its October summit after it refused to let the bloc's envoy meet Suu Kyi.Cambodia takes over ASEAN's rotating chairmanship next year. Hun Sen said the Myanmar leader had the right to attend summits.

Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralysed since the generals ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in February. On Monday, Suu Kyi was sentenced to two years' detention for incitement against the military and breaching coronavirus rules, drawing fresh condemnation from around the world. The junta has justified the coup by alleging electoral fraud in last year's poll, and Suu Kyi faces a raft of further charges that could see her jailed for decades if convicted. Diplomatic pressure has shown no sign of knocking the military regime.