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Myanmar leader starts landmark US visit

Myanmar President Thein Sein began Saturday the first visit to Washington by a leader of his country in nearly 50 years as the United States throws its support behind his reforms. The former general, who initiated a wave of reforms after taking office in 2011, flew into Washington and was holding a weekend of private meetings before talks at the White House on Monday, people involved in the trip said.

US visit endorses 'Myanmar's Spring': Thein Sein aide

President Thein Sein's historic invitation to the White House is an endorsement of "Myanmar's Spring" and a further sign that the former pariah's reforms are irreversible, a senior Myanmar official said. Washington will welcome the former general on Monday in a hugely symbolic reward for sweeping changes since he took power two years ago. He will be the first leader of the former military-ruled nation to visit since 1966.

Myanmar leader frees dissidents ahead of US visit

Myanmar released about 20 political prisoners on Friday, a top official said, hours before its reform-minded leader was due to leave on a landmark visit to the United States to meet President Barack Obama. President Thein Sein, a former general, has freed hundreds of political detainees since coming to power in early 2011 as part of sweeping changes that have led to the end of most Western sanctions.

Myanmar President Thein Sein to meet Obama on Monday at White House

Myanmar President Thein Sein will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday, it said Wednesday. Thein Sein, who will be the first head of the Southeast Asian country to make an official trip to the United States since 1966, is expected to discuss with Obama challenges to efforts to "develop democracy, address communal and ethnic tensions and bring economic opportunity to the people of his country," the White House said in a statement. Obama paid the first visit as a U.S. president to Myanmar in November.

Myanmar president on landmark US visit Monday

The White House said it will welcome Myanmar's leader on a landmark visit Monday in a symbolic reward by President Barack Obama to encourage reforms in the longtime pariah state. President Thein Sein, a former general who surprised even many critics by ushering in democratic changes, will be the first leader from the country formerly known as Burma to visit Washington since 1966.

Myanmar president to make landmark US visit: state TV

Myanmar's president will soon make the first state visit to the United States by a leader of the former pariah nation in almost half a century, state television announced Monday. It did not say exactly when former general Thein Sein -- whose quasi-civilian government has won international plaudits for its political reforms since taking power two years ago -- would travel to Washington. Myanmar government officials told AFP they were aware of the planned visit but did not know the precise dates.

U.S. lifts more sanctions on Myanmar to support reforms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday lifted another set of sanctions against Myanmar to support reforms in the formerly army-ruled country, while retaining visa and investment bans against individuals accused of human rights abuses. The Obama administration decided that a 1996 ban on granting U.S. entry visas to the former Burma's military rulers, their business partners and immediate families was no longer necessary after two years of reforms, the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. lifts more sanctions on Myanmar to support reforms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday lifted another set of sanctions against Myanmar to support reforms in the formerly army-ruled country, while retaining visa and investment bans against individuals accused of human rights abuses. The Obama administration decided that a 1996 ban on granting U.S. entry visas to the former Burma's military rulers, their business partners and immediate families was no longer necessary after two years of reforms, the State Department said in a statement.

Myanmar leader plans landmark Washington visit

Myanmar's leader plans a landmark visit to Washington this month, a source said Thursday, as the United States eased visa restrictions in a sign of support despite a surge in anti-Muslim violence. President Thein Sein, who would be the first leader of the country to visit in half a century, is planning to be in the American capital around May 20 or May 21, a staff member at the US Congress told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Myanmar president to visit Washington in May

Myanmar President Thein Sein plans to visit Washington later this month, a move that would make him the first Myanmar leader in half a century to visit the U.S. capital, the Associated Press and other media reported. A staff member at the U.S. Congress told the media that the landmark visit would include a meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House. The reported plan comes as the U.S. State Department decided Thursday to terminate a ban imposed on visas for Myanmar officials since the 1990s.
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