Editing Myanmar (section)

=== Foreign relations ===
{{main|Foreign relations of Myanmar}}
Though the country's foreign relations, particularly with [[Western nations]], have historically been strained, the situation has markedly improved since the reforms following the 2010 elections. After years of diplomatic isolation and economic and military sanctions,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN01182:@@@L&summ2=m& |title=Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 |publisher=United States Library of Congress |access-date=4 February 2007 |date=4 June 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040125044621/http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108%3ASN01182%3A%40%40%40L&summ2=m& |archive-date=25 January 2004 }}</ref> the United States relaxed curbs on foreign aid to Myanmar in November 2011<ref name="Clinton" /> and announced the resumption of diplomatic relations on 13 January 2012<ref>{{cite news | author1=Myers, Steven Lee |author2=Mydans, Seth | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/world/asia/united-states-resumes-diplomatic-relations-with-myanmar.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113174407/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/world/asia/united-states-resumes-diplomatic-relations-with-myanmar.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The New York Times | title=U.S. to Renew Myanmar Ties in Light of Reforms | date=13 January 2012 |access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> The [[European Union]] has placed sanctions on Myanmar, including an [[arms embargo]], cessation of [[trade preference]]s, and suspension of all aid with the exception of [[humanitarian aid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/myanmar/intro/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060725000750/http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/myanmar/intro/index.htm|archive-date=25 July 2006 |title= The EU's relations with Burma / Myanmar |access-date=13 July 2006 |publisher=European Union}}</ref>

Sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries against the former military government, coupled with boycotts and other direct pressure on corporations by supporters of the democracy movement, have resulted in the withdrawal from the country of most U.S. and many European companies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8195956.stm |title=Overview of Burma sanctions |publisher=BBC News |access-date=12 November 2011 |date=18 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812181932/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8195956.stm |archive-date=12 August 2011}}</ref> Despite Western isolation, Asian corporations have generally remained willing to continue investing in the country and to initiate new investments, particularly in natural resource extraction. The country has close relations with neighbouring India and China with several Indian and Chinese companies operating in the country. Under India's [[Look East policy (India)|Look East policy]], fields of co-operation between India and Myanmar include [[remote sensing]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11045BA04AFDFED0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Burma, India to sign accord on use of India's remote sensing satellite data |publisher=NewsLibrary.com |date=9 March 2006 |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501183947/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11045BA04AFDFED0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> oil and gas exploration,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0426/p04s01-wosc.html |title=India looks to Burma to slake growing thirst for gas |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=26 April 2006 |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708035039/http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0426/p04s01-wosc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> information technology,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/04/content_8953269.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111015855/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/04/content_8953269.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2009 |title=Myanmar, India to build IT centres in Myanmar_English_Xinhua |agency=Xinhua News Agency |date=4 August 2008 |access-date=17 April 2010}}</ref> hydropower<ref>{{cite web |url=http://steelguru.com/news/index/2008/08/01/NTY5MDg%3D/India_to_develop_two_hydel_power_projects_in_Myanmar.html |title=India to develop two hydel power projects in Myanmar – 56908 |publisher=Steelguru.com |date=1 August 2008 |access-date=20 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116032246/http://steelguru.com/news/index/2008/08/01/NTY5MDg%3D/India_to_develop_two_hydel_power_projects_in_Myanmar.html |archive-date=16 January 2009}}</ref> and construction of ports and buildings.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_news/world/asia_pacific/716/71684/story7168492.shtml |title=India urges Burma reconciliation |publisher=BBC News |date=2 January 2008 |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-date=2 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202013907/http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_news/world/asia_pacific/716/71684/story7168492.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Myanmar also has close political relations with Vietnam<ref>{{Cite web |last=[[Vietnam News Agency]] |date=17 December 2019 |title=PM calls for stronger Vietnam-Myanmar parliamentary ties |url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/pm-calls-for-stronger-vietnammyanmar-parliamentary-ties/165624.vnp |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=[[VietnamPlus]] |language=en |archive-date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403185621/https://en.vietnamplus.vn/pm-calls-for-stronger-vietnammyanmar-parliamentary-ties/165624.vnp |url-status=live }}</ref> and Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michimi Muranushi |date=22 October 2019 |title=Japan's Defense of Myanmar and the Rohingya Genocide |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/japans-defense-myanmar-and-rohingya-genocide |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=[[Middle East Institute]] |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320170843/https://www.mei.edu/publications/japans-defense-myanmar-and-rohingya-genocide |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 May 2021 |title=Japan should not follow the Western policy on Myanmar - Diplomat op-ed |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-should-not-follow-western-policy-myanmar-diplomat-op-ed-2021-05-26/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220803021638/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-should-not-follow-western-policy-myanmar-diplomat-op-ed-2021-05-26/ |archive-date=3 August 2022}}</ref>

In May 2013, Thein Sein became the first Myanmar president to visit the [[White House]] in 47 years. President [[Barack Obama]] praised the former general for political and economic reforms and the cessation of tensions between Myanmar and the United States. Political activists objected to the visit because of concerns over human rights abuses in Myanmar, but Obama assured Thein Sein that Myanmar will receive U.S. support. The two governments agreed to sign a [[bilateral trade]] and investment framework agreement on 21 May 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Vows US Support As Myanmar Leader Visits|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185449969|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521150924/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185449969|archive-date=21 May 2013|publisher=NPR|date=20 May 2013|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In June 2013, Myanmar held its first ever summit, the [[World Economic Forum]] on East Asia 2013. A regional spinoff of the annual [[World Economic Forum]] in [[Davos]], Switzerland, the summit was held on 5–7 June and attended by 1,200 participants, including 10 heads of state, 12 ministers and 40 senior directors from around the world.<ref>{{cite web|title={{As written|Pheo|nix}} Voyages appointed travel manager for Myanmar's first major summit|url=http://www.ttgmice.com/article/pheonix-voyages-appointed-travel-manager-for-myanmars-first-major-summit/|publisher=TTGmice|access-date=29 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110163809/http://www.ttgmice.com/article/pheonix-voyages-appointed-travel-manager-for-myanmars-first-major-summit/|archive-date=10 November 2013}}</ref>

On 19 January 2025, Reuters reported that [[ASEAN]] had told Myanmar's military government to prioritise ceasefire, "urging the junta to start dialogue and end hostilities immediately" and "to allow unhindered humanitarian access", citing Malaysia's foreign minister [[Mohamad Hasan (politician)|Mohamad Hasan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Azhar |first=Danial |date=19 January 2025 |title=ASEAN tells Myanmar junta peace, not election, is priority |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/malaysia-takes-asean-mantle-tempers-expectations-myanmar-south-china-sea-2025-01-18/ |access-date=21 January 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref> The ASEAN chair's statement denounced "the continued acts of violence against civilians and public facilities and urged all parties involved" to "immediately halt indiscriminate violence, exercise utmost restraint, ensure the protection and safety of all civilians and civilian infrastructures, and create a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue".<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2025 |title=Press Statement by the Chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat |url=https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FINAL-Press-Statement-by-the-Chair-AMM-Retreat-2025.pdf |access-date=21 January 2025 |website=ASEAN}}</ref>