U.S. President George W. Bush renewed Wednesday a ban on all imports from Myanmar, a southern Asian country that has been at odds with the United States over democracy movement.
The U.S. Congress last week voted overwhelmingly in favor of extending the ban for another year. Bush signed them into law Wednesday, the White House said in a brief statement.
Bush renewed two months ago sanctions that prohibit new investments and exports of financial services to Myanmar and that deny visas to top officials of the country.
On June 26, senior officials of the United States and Myanmar had a rare meeting in Beijing, China over political concerns.
U.S. officials at the meeting were "clear and direct" in demanding the release of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the thousands of political prisoners in Myanmar, the State Department said.
Accusing the government of Myanmar of imposing political repression, Washington has been demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi who has been under house arrest for her behavior of sabotaging unity, stability and economic development of the country.
Myanmar, which categorically rejects the U.S. accusations, insists that there is no political prisoners in the country.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The last meeting between officials of the United States and Myanmar was held in 2003.
Source: Xinhua
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