Thein Sein calls for end to sanctions Western governments should scrap sanctions against Myanmar to encourage badly needed investment in the country, president Thein Sein has warned as he vowed to step up the pace of reform. In one of his first interviews since being elected 18 months ago, Thein Sein told the Financial Times that "major" western investment was crucial to the country's rapid democratisation but would not materialise until sanctions were revoked. The US and EU among others decided recently suspended restrictions on business and economic activities in Myanmar. "It's only if you lift the lid entirely that it allows everything to come out," Mr Thein Sein said. It is extremely important that sanctions be lifted - both financial and other economic sanctions - to make possible the sort of trade and investments that this country desperately needs at this time. Mr Thein Sein highlighted the involvement of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the political process, describing her presence as vital to the country's future. "All these economic sanctions have political reasons behind them," he said. It is one of the reasons why it has been so important to engage with [Ms Suu Kyi] and to include her in the process of political reconciliation. The US is poised to unveil unusually detailed guidelines for US financial and business transactions with Myanmar that will include strict licensing and disclosure requirements. An announcement is expected ahead of Thursday's visit by Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, to Cambodia for a regional foreign ministers" meeting. Mrs Clinton, who is also leading a senior US business delegation to Cambodia, was initially planning to visit Myanmar while in south-east Asia but cancelled the trip. However, a US business delegation will visit Myanmar this weekend following the arrival on Wednesday of the new US ambassador to the country, Derek Mitchell. US officials have confirmed that sanctions against Myanmar were suspended rather than revoked in order to ensure reforms remain on track. US congressmen have also signalled their intention to maintain pressure on the government, with moves to renew legislation that bans all imports from Myanmar. Even so, Washington has indicated it wants to reward Mr Thein Sein for his rapid reforms over the past year. These have included the release of an estimated 700 political prisoners, the fair conduct of April elections that brought Ms Suu Kyi and her party into parliament and crucial reforms on labour, pensions and land use. Speaking in the sprawling presidential palace in Naypyidaw, Mr Thein Sein reiterated his commitment to continuing reform, promoting economic development and resolving conflicts in ethnic zones. He also touched on moves to overhaul his government to help facilitate a "second wave" of reforms focused on economic development. Ahead of a cabinet reshuffle expected next week, the president warned against seeing the situation as a struggle between conservatives and progressives. He also rejected charges that the military still has a powerful grip on the government. Myint Swe, a former army intelligence chief, was promoted to vice-president on Tuesday. "This is an armed forces that the country has had to rely on for a very long time for security and to meet external threats as well in the past," said Mr Thein Sein. So it was important at this time that they were not left behind entirely.