U.S., Myanmar diplomats meet

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar, March 26 (UPI) -- A senior U.S. diplomat met with Myanmar officials in the Asian country as the Obama administration continued its review of U.S. policy for the country.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement late Wednesday that the visit by Stephen Blake, the department's chief for mainland Southeast Asia, "does not reflect a change in policy or approach to Burma (as Myanmar was formerly known)," The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The government's official newspaper hailed the meeting, the Post said. The Myanmar newspaper said Blake and Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win had "cordial discussions on issues of mutual interests and the promotion of bilateral relations between the Union of Myanmar and the United States."

Blake visited Naypyidaw, the new capital, and Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the former capital, where he met with members of the opposition party, the Post said.

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the administration was reviewing its policy toward Myanmar, whose military junta is considered among the most repressive in the world.