HANOI, Vietnam (CNN) -- Cambodia's entry to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is shaping up as one of the most controversial issues facing a meeting of the powerful group, which convenes Tuesday for two days.

As ASEAN foreign ministers went behind closed doors Friday to discuss the Cambodia issue, Singapore's leading newspaper, the pro-Government Straits Times, said the strife-torn country was not ready for admission.

"Foreign ministers of ASEAN, who could decide within the next 24 hours on the timing of Cambodia's admission must be unequivocal about a deferment. Cambodia has to wait, possibly a year," the newspaper said in an editorial.

The daily argued that "granting entry at a delicate stage of its mending can expose the grouping to recrimination if the deal between (Cambodian Prime Minister) Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh comes apart."

The question of Cambodia's admission is emerging as a key topic at ASEAN meetings in Hanoi, which formally got under way on Friday with the foreign ministers meeting.

They were expected to decide whether Cambodia should be admitted in time for next week's annual summit meeting of ASEAN leaders which follows, ASEAN secretary general Rodolfo Severino said.

Cambodia had been expected to join ASEAN in mid-1997 along with Laos and Myanmar, but its admission was postponed after Premier Hun Sen ousted then co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

The issue -- like others to confront ASEAN this year -- has exposed differences among key members about when to admit Cambodia following the recent formation of a coalition government headed by strongman Hun Sen.

Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia have lined up behind Cambodia's bid to join during the summit while Singapore has said the time is not yet right.

Diplomats have also said Thailand believes it would be premature for Cambodia to be admitted at next week's meetings.

During the summit, which will also focus on the economic woes of the region, ASEAN leaders will also meet Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao.

A statement from Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said officials holding preparatory meetings on Thursday had discussed unspecified ways to bring about an early economic recovery.

Communist-ruled Vietnam -- a country that once inspired intense suspicion among other arch-capitalist ASEAN nations -- has put every effort into ensuring the summit it is hosting for the first time is a success.

Extra police have been mobilized and some reports have said beggars, prostitutes and vagrants that frequent some Hanoi streets have been shifted from the city center.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

According to draft documents seen by Reuters, during the summit ASEAN leaders are expected to approve further cuts in tariffs and promote measures to boost investment.

In addition, ASEAN would consider the feasibility of a regional currency, aim to develop an ASEAN bond market by 2010 and request continued financial assistance from industrial economies and international institutions.

"We shall spare no efforts to quickly restore financial and macroeconomic stability, bring about early economic recovery and maintain sustained economic growth," one of the documents said.

"ASEAN will keep its markets open as it recognizes that the key to strengthen and stabilize the region's currencies and economies is to attract long-term investment," it added, in language slightly at odds with Malaysia's imposition of capital controls in September.

Reuters contributed to this report.