United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura invited on Tuesday the United States and six other countries for talks on the war-torn country in Geneva next months.
He plans to meet senior representatives from the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, France and Egypt on September 14, two days after he receives officials from Russia, Turkey and Iran for previously announced talks.
"This is going to be an opportunity to discuss the way ahead on the political process," UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said.
A US State Department official said the United States would be represented by James Jeffrey, the newly minted special representative for Syria, and Joel Rayburn, the administration's special envoy for Syria.
De Mistura is tasked with forming a committee of Syrian citizens to draw up the new constitution, after receiving nominations from the Syrian regime and the opposition.
The planned meetings follow a similar set of talks with both groups of countries in June, although Egypt was not involved in that round.
The discussions about setting up a constitutional committee have made slow progress.
For two years the warring sides repeatedly came to Geneva, in a futile search for agreement on political reforms, a new constitution and new elections.
The US State Department official said the United States would remain engaged with the United Nations and other parties, including Russia, to encourage all possible efforts to advance the political process, and it supported de Mistura's efforts to broker a political settlement.
