Closed captioning of: Obama makes historic visit to Myanmar
>>>
the president is on an historic tour of
southeast asia
. nbc's white house correspondent
chuck todd
has the latest from yangon,
myanmar
. good evening where you are.
>> reporter:
willie, just a few short years ago that this country was essentially isolated from the
world community
. now,
president obama
makes this historic trip becoming the first
u.s. president
to visit
myanmar
, the country formerly known as burma. a rousing welcome for the president, a sea of people eager to catch a glimpse of the motorcade, uniform schoolchildren waving u.s. and
myanmar
flags for miles. a
red carpet
welcome. mr. obama made an unannounced stop at
myanmar
's famous pagoda, a 2,000-year-old holy site, the center of
burmese buddhism
. there a monk led him in a ceremonial pouring of water over the head of a buddhist stature.
>>
i was dousing the flames.
>> reporter:
then it was on to
aung san suu kyi
's house where the
nobel peace prize winner
and democracy activist lived under
house arrest
for years.
>>
i would like to say how happy i am to receive
president obama
in my country and in my house. later the president formally addressed the people of
myanmar
in a speech at
yangon university
where he justified this trip to this still not yet
free country
.
>>
when i took office as president i sent a message to those governments who ruled by fear. i said in my
inauguration address
we will extend a hand if you're unwilling to clench your first. under president
thein sein
the desire for change has been met by an agenda for reform, so today i've come to keep my promise and extend the hand of friendship.
>> reporter:
and the president didn't just come here to give a speech. he also brought some aid money. some $170 million. not a large sum when it comes to
foreign aid
, but more will come, the president and the obama administration promised, if more reforms happen here in
myanmar
. willie.
>>
chuck todd
traveling with the president in
myanmar
. chuck, thanks.
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