YANGON: 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 yesterday. It did not say exactly when former general Thein Sein would travel to Washington. Myanmar government officials told AFP they were aware of the planned visit but did not know the precise dates.
The trip, which was first reported by AFP earlier this month, will be the first to Washington by a head of the country since military leader Ne Win was invited in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson. Thein Sein has previously visited the US to attend the UN General Assembly, but only held meetings in New York. Obama paid his own visit to Myanmar in November, when he praised the nation for its transition but called for progress on reforms, particularly in the treatment of ethnic minorities.
Thein Sein’s visit is expected to be controversial due to a surge in violence against the Rohingya, a Muslim people who are not considered citizens by Myanmar.
