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IN PHOTOS: Hillary Clinton arrives in Myanmar, makes history

The BBC reports that United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Burma on Wednesday, on the first visit by such a senior American diplomat in 50 years.

Clinton said she was "quite hopeful" that reforms undertaken by the government could lead to a broader "movement for change". She is due to meet Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein on her two-day visit.

No US politician of her seniority has visited since an army takeover in 1962.

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IN PHOTOS: Hillary Clinton arrives in Myanmar, makes history

Clinton landed in the remote capital, Nay Pyi Daw, on Wednesday afternoon. She will meet top officials on Thursday before heading to Rangoon to meet pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi.

Earlier, she told reporters in South Korea that she wanted to see for herself how committed the government was to change.

Myanmar has been under the shelter of China in the last few decades, so the US is looking to reengage with this country which is in a really strategic position between India and China," she said.

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IN PHOTOS: Hillary Clinton arrives in Myanmar, makes history

"People in Myanmar are very optimistic about this visit. They see it as a chance for their country open up with the outside world and reengage with the international community."

The government has made efforts to reform election laws and rules banning protests. It has also released some political prisoners, the BBC says.