Obama Visits Myanmar

President Barack Obama said Wednesday the US is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar as he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now the nation's de facto leader.

President Barack Obama moved to restore trade benefits to Myanmar and said broader sanctions would soon be scrapped, as he hosted de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the White House Wednesday.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi meets with President Barack Obama on Wednesday in her first visit to the United States since her party won a sweeping victory in last year's election, capping a decades-long journey from political prisoner to national leader.

President Barack Obama will discuss possible further relief of US sanctions on Myanmar when the de facto leader of the nation's new civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, visits on Wednesday, a White House official said.

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has accepted an invite from Barack Obama to visit the United States, her government said today, the first time the pair will meet since last year's landmark elections.

Myanmar faces uncomfortable scrutiny this week over fears its reforms have hit the buffers as Barack Obama joins global leaders in Naypyidaw, with the country's transition towards democracy entering a pivotal phase.

President Barack Obama headed for China on Sunday on a trip that will focus on Washington's often tense relations with the country, and will also see the president visit Myanmar and Australia.

Myanmar's reform process is "stalling", opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday, warning the United States against over-optimism before a visit by President Barack Obama to the former pariah state.

US President Barack Obama will travel to China, Myanmar and Australia between November 10-16 for a series of summits and bilateral talks, the White House has stated.

US President Barack Obama will travel to China, Myanmar and Australia next week during a six-day trip to attend a series of key multilateral and bilateral meetings with foreign leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Myanmar President Thein Sein on Monday became the first leader of his country to visit the White House in nearly half a century, as Washington offers a strong symbolic gesture to back his reforms.

Myanmar President Thein Sein on Monday becomes the first leader of his country to visit the White House in nearly half a century, in one of the most symbolic US gestures yet to support his reforms.

Officially at least, America still calls this Southeast Asian nation Burma, the favoured appellation of dissidents and pro-democracy activists who opposed the former military junta's move to summarily change its name 23 years ago.

Myanmar released dozens of political prisoners on Monday in an amnesty coinciding with a landmark visit by US President Barack Obama, a pro-democracy activist told AFP.

In a historic trip to a long shunned land, President Barack Obama on Monday showered praise and promises of more US help to Myanmar if the Asian nation keeps building its new democracy. "Our goal is to sustain the momentum," he declared with pride as the first US president to visit Myanmar.

President Barack Obama said Wednesday the US is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar as he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now the nation's de facto leader.

President Barack Obama moved to restore trade benefits to Myanmar and said broader sanctions would soon be scrapped, as he hosted de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the White House Wednesday.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi meets with President Barack Obama on Wednesday in her first visit to the United States since her party won a sweeping victory in last year's election, capping a decades-long journey from political prisoner to national leader.

President Barack Obama will discuss possible further relief of US sanctions on Myanmar when the de facto leader of the nation's new civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, visits on Wednesday, a White House official said.

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has accepted an invite from Barack Obama to visit the United States, her government said today, the first time the pair will meet since last year's landmark elections.

Myanmar faces uncomfortable scrutiny this week over fears its reforms have hit the buffers as Barack Obama joins global leaders in Naypyidaw, with the country's transition towards democracy entering a pivotal phase.

President Barack Obama headed for China on Sunday on a trip that will focus on Washington's often tense relations with the country, and will also see the president visit Myanmar and Australia.

Myanmar's reform process is "stalling", opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday, warning the United States against over-optimism before a visit by President Barack Obama to the former pariah state.

US President Barack Obama will travel to China, Myanmar and Australia between November 10-16 for a series of summits and bilateral talks, the White House has stated.

US President Barack Obama will travel to China, Myanmar and Australia next week during a six-day trip to attend a series of key multilateral and bilateral meetings with foreign leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Myanmar President Thein Sein on Monday became the first leader of his country to visit the White House in nearly half a century, as Washington offers a strong symbolic gesture to back his reforms.

Myanmar President Thein Sein on Monday becomes the first leader of his country to visit the White House in nearly half a century, in one of the most symbolic US gestures yet to support his reforms.

Officially at least, America still calls this Southeast Asian nation Burma, the favoured appellation of dissidents and pro-democracy activists who opposed the former military junta's move to summarily change its name 23 years ago.

Myanmar released dozens of political prisoners on Monday in an amnesty coinciding with a landmark visit by US President Barack Obama, a pro-democracy activist told AFP.

In a historic trip to a long shunned land, President Barack Obama on Monday showered praise and promises of more US help to Myanmar if the Asian nation keeps building its new democracy. "Our goal is to sustain the momentum," he declared with pride as the first US president to visit Myanmar.