Myanmar President Thein Sein will discuss his government’s progress toward democracy as well as the country’s ethnic conflicts and communal violence when he meets his American counterpart, Barack Obama, during his trip to Washington next week, the White House has announced.
“The [US] 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.
Min Ko Naing, the popular 88 Generation student leader, said he has a positive feeling about Thein Sein’s trip to the US. He said he expects Washington to pledge its support for Myanmar, and mentioned the education, health and communications sectors as areas the Americans could help grow.
NLD veteran Win Tin, however, suggested that the Myanmar president would be better advised to initiate open discussions about Myanmar’s problems with regard to political affairs and ethnic conflicts.
“It can’t be hidden and it is necessary to address the matters with the gravitas they deserve,” he said.
Thein Sein and Obama have met three times previously—once at an ASEAN summit in Cambodia, once in Indonesia, and late last year when Obama became the first and only US president to visit Myanmar.
Several political commentators have said that although Myanmar is regenerating its ties with the Western world, it should take care not to jeopardize its relations with China.
