U.S. President Barack Obama says he will send Hillary Clinton to Burma next month, the first visit to the military-dominated country by a U.S. Secretary of State in more than 50 years.

Mr. Obama told reporters on the Indonesian resort island of Bali that he made the decision after speaking on the phone earlier with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He added that he saw “flickers of progress” from the Burmese government, but that more needs to be done.

Mr. Obama said the U.S. has ongoing concerns about Burma's human rights record, treatment of ethnic minorities and their closed society. He said Burma will need to go further with reforms to have a new relationship with the U.S.

The president said that on her trip, Secretary Clinton will explore what the U.S. can do to support progress on political reform, human rights and national reconciliation.