Obama in historic visit to Myanmar after Thailand trip
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 19, 2012
Newly re-elected U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Yangon Monday morning to embark on a historic visit to Myanmar, the first by a sitting U.S. president in the history of Myanmar-U.S. relations.
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President Obama shakes hands with U.S. Ambassador Derek J. Mitchell at the airport in Yangon, Myanmar, on Monday. [Agencies] |
As part of his four-day Southeast Asian tour to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, which has started on Saturday, Obama flew over from Thailand after completing his first leg of the tour.
Carrying Obama, who is accompanied by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Air Force One touched down at the Yangon International Airport at 09:38 a.m. (local time).
Greeting Obama at the airport were Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Myint Swe and U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar Dereck Mitchell.
Obama's visit came as bilateral relations warm 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.
On the way leading to the Yangon Region Parliament building opposite to the People's Square and Shwedagon Pagoda, Obama's convoy was accorded warm welcome by organized young students dressed in green uniform from state basic education schools as well as civilians, waving small flags of the two countries.
On arrival at the Yangon Region Parliament building, Obama met with his Myanmar counterpart U Thein Sein who came back a day earlier from the ongoing Phnom Penh ASEAN Summit to greet Obama.
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 including Obama's far- sightedness and the endeavors of Clinton and Mitchell in bringing about improved relations between the two countries which once met with difficulties for over two decades.
He emphasized cooperation for the perpetuation of the improved relations based on mutual respect, sympathy and understanding.
He assured of moving Myanmar forward as what Obama expects.
Obama underlined the discussion with U Thein Sein as a positive one, acknowledging U Thein Sein's reform measure, 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 expects to come back to Myanmar again.
After meeting also with U Shwe Mann, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Obama proceeded to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) and parliamentarian, at her lake-side residence who just returned from a historic visit to India on the eve of Obama's trip to Myanmar.
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