WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to arrive in Myanmar later this week as part of an tour of the Asia-Pacific region that includes visits to Australia and Solomon Islands.
The top US diplomat is scheduled to arrive in Nay Pyi Taw on August 9 to meet government leaders and attend a series of meetings, including the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit.
Myanmar is hosting the meetings in its capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year.
"Engaging the region's multilateral institutions is one of the key aspects of US commitment in Asia to promote peace, stability, and prosperity," said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki when the trip was announced earlier this month.
Kerry will travel from Myanmar to Australia where he will attend the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in Sydney on August 12.
On August 13, Kerry will head to the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, for meetings with government leaders and to participate in wreath-laying ceremonies at the World War II Guadalcanal American Memorial and the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Memorial.
