>>> secretary of state hillary clinton is on her historic trip to the southeast asian nation of myanmar , a country in the midst of dramatic change after years of isolation. nbc's ian williams is there this morning. ian, good morning to you.
>> reporter: good morning, savannah. hillary clinton is the highest ranking u.s. visitor to myanmar for 50 years, coming here to judge for herself the progress of reforms that are bringing unexpected change after two decades of repressive military rule. until just a few weeks ago, this would have been inconceivable, a u.s. secretary of state in myanmar , meeting leaders of what had been regarded as a pariah state all in the surreal and isolated new capital, built from scratch in the middle of nowhere , and with so few people its vast eight-lane highways are almost deserted. until recently it was largely off limits to westerners. it's a world away from the old capital of yangon, a city of dilapidated, colonial era buildings and stunning pogodas where the reforms and clinton 's visit are generating enormous hope.
>> we are welcome and we are happy to see her. and i hope that it is a good visit for change in burma.
>> reporter: until recently, this would have been almost unheard of -- portraits of pro democracy leader aung san suu kyi openly on display. censorship has been eased. political prisoners have been released and restrictions on protests have been lifted. the changes are all the more remarkable when you consider it's only been a year since aung san suu kyi was released from house arrest where she spent 15 of the last 22 years. although not everybody is convinced about the sincerity of the government. this man was a political prisoner for 17 of the last 21 years.
>> there had been some changes. i mean, these are changes more nominal than real.
>> reporter: more nominal than real.
>> real, yeah. but we'll have to wait and see.
>> reporter: he estimates that more than 500 political prisoners are still behind bars. clinton is pressing for their release and the speeding of change. the government perhaps now realizes there is a lot to be gained by opening up, not least from the many tourists who will surely flock here with a little less guilt. secretary clinton is now in yangon where thursday evening she'll have a private dinner with aung san suu kyi who believes the government is sincere and who may soon test the reforms by standing for parliament.
Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/45506487/
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