The meeting was the first high-level U.S.-Chinese contact since then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's brief visit to Beijing in September.

NPR: China's Leader Xi Meets US Treasury Secretary

She adds that Ms Ashton's visit is the latest in a stream of high-level diplomatic meetings that reveal a rapidly escalating process of international engagement between Burma and the rest of the world.

BBC: EU foreign policy chief Ashton visits Burma

As Bill Clinton prepared for an official visit to Mexico and Central America, Latin Americans at a high-level meeting in Atlanta accused the United States of footdragging over pan-American free trade.

ECONOMIST: Blair's Britain

This is the most senior UK visit to Brazil since April 2009 when Gordon Brown went to see then President Lula in Brasilia, followed by a visit to Sao Paulo where he joined up with Peter Mandelson and a high-level business delegation.

BBC: Viewpoint: UK firms wake up to Brazilian opportunities