Myanmar’s president to visit White House on Monday

Myanmar President Thein Sein  AP File

WASHINGTON— President Barack Obama is set to welcome Myanmar President Thein Sein to the White House Monday.

It will be the first visit by a Myanmar head of state in nearly 47 years and a sign of warming ties between the countries.

Last November, Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the country also known as Burma. The trip was a step in administration efforts to end Myanmar’s decades of diplomatic isolation and reward its shift from authoritarian rule.

White House press secretary Jay Carney says Obama looks forward to discussing the country’s democratic transition, communal and ethnic tensions and providing economic opportunity for Myanmar’s people.

An aide to Thein Sein said a cyclone due to hit western Myanmar on Friday could affect his decision to travel.