Myanmar, US agree to re-establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level

YANGON, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar civilian government has agreed to the appointment of Derek J Mitchell by the United States government as its Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the country, official media reported Friday.
Myanmar's acceptance of the appointment of Mitchell, who has been serving as U.S. Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Myanmar, signified the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level.
Mitchell will be the first ambassador of the U.S. to Myanmar in 22 years following the country's historic election in April.
This move is said to be made in recognition of the reform pursued by the Southeast Asian nation.
Mitchell last visited Myanmar in May on his fifth mission.
During the month, Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin also met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington and sought progress in easing U.S. economic sanctions.
Relations between Myanmar and the U.S. have improved following Clinton's visit to Myanmar in December last year. More visits were successively made by Derek Mitchell, Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator John MaCain in January this year, meeting with Myanmar's new government leadership and seeking grounds for normalization of the two countries' diplomatic relations which were stranded for over two decades.
In the latest development, the U.S. Treasury has relaxed some sanctions on Myanmar, allowing financial transactions to support the country's humanitarian and development projects.