No. 2 US diplomat to visit Myanmar next week

Oct 11, 3:58 PM EDT  

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Deputy Secretary of State William Burns will visit Myanmar next week during a five-country trip to Asia

Burns will arrive in Myanmar next Wednesday and will meet with President Thein Sein, members of his government, and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

It will be the highest-level U.S. official visit to the country also known as Burma since Hillary Rodham Clinton in December became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit in more than 50 years.

The U.S. has since rolled back sanctions in response to democratic reforms in the military-dominated country. In the latest step, President Barack Obama on Wednesday authorized U.S. support for international development banks to restart lending to Myanmar.

Before Myanmar, Burns will travel to Japan and South Korea. He will also visit India.

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