Zaw Htay, director of Thein Sein's office, said the visit showed the US's recognition of Burma's reforms.

BBC: Burma's Thein Sein heads to US for first state visit

Zaw Htay, a spokesman for Burmese President Thein Sein acknowledged "whole villages and towns being burnt down in Rakhine State while we could not provide full security in some areas".

BBC: Burma: HRW satellite images 'show Rakhine destruction'

The "support and encouragement by the US president and American people will strengthen the commitment of President Thein Sein's reform process to move forward without backtracking", spokesman Maj Zaw Htay said.

BBC: US President Barack Obama to visit Burma