US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton has ended her visit to Burma with a second visit to the home of Nobel Prize winner and civil rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
The women spoke for about an hour and a half. They later stood on a porch, holding hands and spoke to reporters.
Ms Suu Kyi welcomed US engagement with Burma saying she hoped it would set her long-isolated country on the road to democracy.
"We are happy with the way in which the United States is engaging with us and it is through engagement that we hope to promote a process of democratisation," said Ms Suu Kyi, adding that Mrs Clinton's visit was a "historical moment" for both countries.
"If we move forward together I am confident there will be no turning back on the road to democracy," she said. But, she added, "We are not on that road yet."
Saying she very much appreciated US engagement with the Burmese government, Ms Suu Kyi called for the release of all political prisoners and the end to ethnic hostilities.
Mrs Clinton thanked Ms Suu Kyi for "steadfast and very clear leadership" and said the US wanted to work both with the pro-democracy activist as well as the government to improve conditions in Burma.
"If we go forward together I'm confident there will be no turning back from the road to democracy. We are not on that road yet but we hope to get there as soon as possible with our friends," Ms Suu Kyi said.
Mrs Clinton's trip follows a decision by US president Barack Obama last month to open the door to expanded ties, saying he saw "flickers of progress" in a country until recently seen as a reclusive military dictatorship firmly aligned with China.
Ms Suu Kyi said she welcomed more support for Burma including World Bank and International Monetary Fund assessment missions which she said would help the country figure out how to get its economy on track.
She also called on the military-backed government to do more to ensure the rule of law, which she said would prevent the arrest of more political prisoners. "We need all those who are still in prison to be released and we need to ensure that no more are arrested," she said.
She said she would work with the new government, the opposition and friendly countries including the United States and China for a better future for her country.
Mrs Clinton's trip - the first by a senior US official to Burma in more than 50 years - represents an opportunity for both countries, and both appear eager to press ahead with rapprochement.
Agencies