Sanctions relief on agenda as Suu Kyi meets Obama

Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest visit to Washington signals her transformation from long-imprisoned heroine of Myanmar’s democracy struggle to a national leader focused on economic growth.

President Barack Obama will meet with Suu Kyi at the White House on Wednesday and will discuss rolling back more of the sanctions that were applied when the nation was under military rule. Suu Kyi will also be courting the American business community.

Suu Kyi’s party swept historic elections last November.

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Her visit will be a crowning occasion in the administration’s support for Myanmar’s shift from pariah state to democracy.

The US has already eased economic sanctions but still restricts dealings with military-owned companies and dozens of officials and associates of the former ruling junta.

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