US Secretary of State arrives in Naypyidaw

Hillary Clinton visits Myanmar.

Naypyidaw, a new capital city of Myanmar has welcomed Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state who arrived in evening Wednesday.

Clinton is the first US top official visit to Myanmar in more than a haft century, making impressive for Myanmar since it was placed in the list of most isolated country in the world since it was governed by military regime for more than 50 years.

Clinton is expecting to press Thein Sein’s government to expand further political reform and to cut out further contact with North Korea for developing nuclear program.

The three days visiting by Clinton, she will meet Myanmar top officials and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to hold discussion for more reform.

Earlier this month, US President Barack Obama made an announcement at East Asia Summit in Bali about he will send Clinton to visit Myanmar.

Many critics have said that US is trying retaining its leadership role in Asia Pacific because of the rise of China in global power.

But Clinton’s visit was not because of China influence over Myanmar, said Mark Toner, the US State Department spokesman, who told reporters Tuesday.

According to Toner, the visit is about president Obama’s policy which aims to engage with Myanmar government and use the current development opportunity to encourage further reform, until it achieves a genuine democratic country.

Myanmar president Thein Sein and other senior officials will meet Clinton Thursday. She will have a chance to personally evaluate the Thein Sein government regard to their reform commitment toward genuine democratic country, said in a news report by Reuters.