US secretary of state ends Myanmar visit
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Xinhua, December 2, 2011
The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up her three-day official visit to Myanmar Friday evening, drawing high concern of both local and international media.
During the visit, Clinton met with President U Thein Sein and Speaker of the House of Representatives U Shwe Mann and Speaker of the House of Nationalities and Union Parliament U Khin Aung Myint as well as Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin.
U Thein Sein expressed the belief that engagement between the two countries would be promoted to the level of friendly relations and cooperation.
He told Clinton that Myanmar is taking all steps cautiously for a smooth transition to democracy, assuring that the country would not take a u-turn as the government's present endeavors have won domestic and international support for its embarkation on a right track of flourishing democracy.
He also assured of all-inclusiveness in politics under law and the arrangement to enable Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), to register and enter by- elections was a significant change.
Clinton said the U.S. wanted to be a partner with Burma ( Myanmar), saying that there remains much work to be done with Myanmar in the democratization process.
She extended invitation to a Myanmar delegation to visit U.S. early next year for further talks and voiced help to coordinate for sending World Bank mission to assist Myanmar's banking system and cooperation in fight against drugs as well as efforts in enabling Myanmar to participate in environmental conservation programs for countries at the lower part of Mekong River.
Considering to reassign ambassador as part of US efforts in normalizing diplomatic relations with Myanmar, Clinton said roadmap will also be drawn to relax and lift economic sanctions, restrictions on tourism sector and export and import embargo against Myanmar as a new phase of bilateral relationship.
Before her departure on Friday, Clinton met with leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi at her residence and members of some political parties as well as representatives of civil society and ethnic nationalities.
Aung San Suu Kyi hopes to promote Myanmar's democratization process and achieve a better understanding with the government through engagement, saying that the process needs help not just only from the U.S. but also from the international community.
In an attempt to observe Myanmar's recent developments, Clinton arrived in Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday afternoon on the visit to Myanmar, the first trip by a US secretary of state to the country in 50 years since 1955.
Clinton is accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner and US Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Myanmar Derek Mitchell.
