Myanmar President Thein Sein to visit White House

Myanmar President Thein Sein today will become the first leader of his country to visit the White House in nearly half a century, in one of the most symbolic US gestures yet to support his reforms.

In a scene that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago, the former general will meet with President Barack Obama and later speak to leaders of US businesses eager to invest in a country that was long a Western pariah.

Critics say that President Barack Obama’s invitation was premature and takes pressure off Myanmar to address still-alarming abuses such as recent anti-Muslim violence to which security forces allegedly turned a blind eye.

Thein Sein, who took office as a nominal civilian in 2011, surprised even cynics by freeing hundreds of political prisoners, easing censorship and letting long-detained opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi enter parliament.

Obama – whose 2009 inaugural speech pledge to reach out to US foes yielded limited results in the Middle East – has been enthusiastic about Myanmar. He visited in November and has suspended most sanctions in recognition of changes.

The White House said in a statement that Thein Sein’s visit “underscores President Obama’s commitment to supporting and assisting those governments that make the important decision to embrace reform.”