(MCT) — YANGON, Myanmar — President Barack Obama made an historic visit to Myanmar Monday, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Southeast Asia nation in the hopes his high profile presence will encourage the government’s shift from military rule to fledgling democracy.

Obama landed in the country once known as Burma Monday morning local time, the start of a quick stop in which he’ll meet with President Thein Sein before visiting with famed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at her home where she faced house arrest for years before being elected to Parliament.