US president ends historic Myanmar visit

Newly re-elected U.S. President Barack Obama ended his six-hour historic working visit to Myanmar Monday afternoon as part of his four-day Southeast Asian tour to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. During his visit in Yangon, Obama met with his Myanmar counterpart U Thein Sein at the Yangon Region Parliament building. The two leaders topped their discussions on matters of bilateral relations and Myanmar's democratic reform. U Thein Sein stressed cooperation in revitalization and development of democracy, human rights and capacity building, thanking all stakeholders for their efforts in bringing about improved relations between the two countries. He emphasized cooperation for the perpetuation of the improved relations based on mutual respect, sympathy and understanding. Obama underlined the discussion with U Thein Sein is a positive one, acknowledging U Thein Sein's reform measures, which he said is the first step and would benefit the development of relations bilaterally, regionally and internationally. Obama praised U Thein Sein for Myanmar's undertakings in dealing with child soldiers and nuclear non-proliferation. Obama also met with U Shwe Mann, speaker of the House of Representatives and then Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy and parliamentarian. Obama told the press that his visit marks the next step in U.S.- Myanmar relations after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Myanmar last year to explore with Aung San Suu Kyi to begin a new relationship. Obama also delivered a public address at the Yangon University. Obama, who arrived here Monday morning, became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Southeast Asian nation in the history of Myanmar-U.S. relations. Obama's visit also came as bilateral relations is warming up following eased U.S. sanctions in response to a wave of reforms which has been underway since elected President U Thein Sein took office on March 30, 2011. Concluding the visit, Obama is proceeding to the 21st East Asia Summit slated for Tuesday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.