Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi met on Monday with a high-level government minister for the first time since her release last year from house arrest. The government official later described the talks as a “first step” toward further cooperation and said the two sides had agreed to meet again.

Aung San Suu Kyi spoke briefly to reporters after the Rangoon meeting, saying she was expecting the talks to lead to “results that can benefit the country.” She did not elaborate as she spoke alongside Labor and Welfare Minister Aung Kyi, who read a prepared statement saying the talks included discussions on the rule of law and “overcoming disunity.”

Western governments and human rights groups have been urging Burma's new, nominally civilian government to open a dialogue with opposition groups, including Aung San Suu Kyi. They are also pressing for the release of more than 2,000 Burmese political prisoners.

Monday's meeting came just days after U.S. Secretary of State of State Hillary Clinton, speaking in India, referred to human rights in Burma as “deplorable.” In her address, Clinton called on New Delhi to encourage Burmese authorities to engage in dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party.

Labor Minister Aung Kyi was in charge of relations between the military government and Aung San Suu Kyi before the new, nominally civilian, government took office this year.

The NLD boycotted the elections that brought the new government to power because Aung San Suu Kyi was barred from being a candidate. As a result, it was ordered to disband.

The party won elections in 1990, but was never allowed to take power. Aung San Suu Kyi spent most of the next 21 years in detention.