Yet Washington has clearly already decided to step up its engagement with Burma, as part of its strategic shift to Southeast Asia and East Asia in an effort to combat China's influence in the regions. On Friday, the US lifted a decade-old ban on most Burmese imports, despite having previously made the release of all political prisoners a condition for the lifting of all economic sanctions.
The choice of Southeast Asia for President Obama first foreign trip since his re-election is a significant sign of Washington's intentions in the region. President Obama's three-day tour begins tomorrow on Sunday in Bangkok, where he will meet Thailand's King and the Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. It concludes in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Tuesday, where President Obama will attend the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia summits.
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2012/11/18/burmas-president-thein-sein-pledges-to-address-violence-between-muslims-and-buddhists-ahead-of-obama-visit/
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