History! Obama Becomes The First President To Visit Burma (PHOTOS)

Posted November 19, 2012 by Selena Hill for Global Grind Staff

President Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Burmese Foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin arrive at Yangon International airport. SOURCE: Getty Images

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President Obama made history today when he became the first POTUS to visit Burma in Southeast Asia.

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The President took a six-hour tour of the country, where he met President Thein Sein and Burmese counterpart Aung San Suu Kyi. Obama praised the country's tremendous progress in moving toward democracy by easing censorship and releasing political prisoners, calling it a "remarkable journey."

In a televised speech to an audience of more than a thousand students, politicians, campaigners, ethnic leaders, NGO workers and cultural and religious figures at Yangon University, he said:

"When I took office as president, I sent a message to those governments who ruled by fear: we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your first. So today, I have come to keep my promise, and extend the hand of friendship."

Later on today, Obama will travel to Cambodia to attend the East Asia Summit and meet with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

SOURCE: The Guardian