Washington, Dhu-AlHijjah 13, 1437, Sep 14, 2016, SPA -- The United States will lift sanctions in the wake of Myanmar's return to democracy, US President Barack Obama said Wednesday after a White House meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the elected government that took power in March. Following more than 60 minutes of talks in the Oval Office, Obama told reporters that he was "now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed," in response to the "remarkable social and political transformation" in Myanmar. The White House earlier announced that Obama would restore trade preferences granted to Myanmar as one of the world's poorest countries. The benefits were suspended in 1989 during the country's military regime. Reopening economic relations is "the right thing to do to ensure that the people of Burma see rewards for a new way of doing business," Obama said, according to dpa. -- SPA 22:45 LOCAL TIME 19:45 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w