U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to meet with Burmese President Thein Sein Friday, after the United States formally lifted economic sanctions against the southeast Asian nation.

A senior State Department official told VOA the talks will take place on the sidelines of a conference in Cambodia. Clinton met with President Thein Sein in December, during a landmark trip to Burma.

Washington ended the sanctions Wednesday, allowing American companies to invest in Burma for the first time in 15 years.

The White House says the move, first announced in May, comes in response to “important economic and political reforms” by Burma's nominally civilian government.