Keep up reforms in Myanmar

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Myanmar President Thein Sein before a meeting in Siem Reap yesterday. Photo: AFP

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday urged Myanmar's president to stick with economic and political reforms as his resource-rich country emerges from nearly half a century of military rule.
"We want you to keep going. We're very committed," Clinton said as she met Thein Sein, a former junta general chosen by parliament last year to lead a quasi-civilian government.
In the 15 months since taking power, Thein Sein has begun to liberalize Myanmar's economy, released more than 670 political prisoners, permitted greater media freedoms, legalized protests and undertaken peace talks with rebels.
Hillary and Thein Sein met at a business conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia, two days after the United States eased sanctions to allow US companies to invest in Myanmar and provide financial services in the country, also known by its British colonial name Burma.
Posing for pictures before their talks, Thein Sein said: "I am very pleased to see that our bilateral relationship (is) improving dramatically. And we are pleased that President Obama eased the sanctions."
While creating exceptions to the sanctions, Obama has formally left them in place, retaining leverage over Myanmar if the government should start backsliding on reforms.
On Wednesday he required American companies to make detailed disclosures about their dealings in the hopes of increasing transparency in Myanmar, among the world's most corrupt countries according to watchdog Transparency International.
Washington has faced criticism from rights groups concerned it is moving too fast in its eagerness to cash in on Myanmar's vast business potential.
But the decision will please US firms eager not to miss out on what some economists expect to be a gold rush in the resource-rich nation.
Hillary and Thein Sein met for about an hour, a senior US official told reporters, saying Hillary had voiced concern about reports that 10 staff members from the United Nations and other international organisations had been detained in Myanmar and charges had been lodged against some of them.
Meanwhile, IMF chief Christine Lagarde has announced a new office aimed at boosting its support for Myanmar.
Largarde said she was "delighted to announce... a new office here in Bangkok aimed at supporting our technical assistance for Myanmar", at a speech in the city late Thursday.