Myanmar’s president, U Thein Sein, will visit the White House on May 20, another step in the warming of relations between the United States and the military regime that rules Myanmar, once known as Burma.
President Obama made a landmark visit to Myanmar in November, and the White House, in its announcement, said Mr. Thein Sein’s visit was in recognition of the democratic reforms undertaken by his government.
“The president looks forward to discussing with President Thein Sein the many remaining challenges to efforts to develop democracy, address communal and ethnic tensions, and bring economic opportunity to the people of his country, and to exploring how the United States can help,†the White House said in a statement.
The military government in Myanmar has embarked on a range of reforms, releasing political prisoners, most prominently Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the long-detained pro-democracy leader who is now working with the government.
But human rights advocates said that after a promising start, the government has failed to follow through on many of its pledges. They criticize the timing of the trip, saying it rewards Mr. Thien Sien prematurely.
