During her 30-minute speech, Mrs Clinton stressed the importance of economic engagement, especially in Asia. She said US President Barrack Obama's visit to the region for a series of government-level meetings over the next few days so soon after his re-election underscores this priority.

Mrs Clinton also touched on the importance of finding ways to tap economic solutions for strategic challenges.

Citing Myanmar as an example, she said the cost of economic sanctions and the benefits of rejoining the global economy helped spur the government to begin opening up.

The other areas of priority include boosting US exports, opening new markets, levelling the playing field for its businesses and building diplomatic capacity to achieve its agenda.

Obama seemed thrilled and genuinely moved to be in the presence of Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest in 2010 and is now a member of Burma's House of Representatives. After the pair spoke, the president leaned over to Suu Kyi and kissed her on the cheek.

Earlier, emerging from his limousine in Suu Kyi's driveway, Obama offered a traditional bow to Suu Kyi, clasping his palms together. She returned the gesture and they began to go inside before turning back to greet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Suu Kyi and Clinton embraced, with the Burmese activist appearing to be on the verge of tears after seeing Clinton.

Obama also offered a tribute to Clinton, noting that it's her last foreign trip as secretary of state and praising her for her work to support democracy campaigners worldwide, including Suu Kyi.

Oh, this makes me weepy. That she is able to see this, all that she fought for, in her lifetime ...

The incredible shrinking presidential trip ...

During Obama’s first term, he and his advisers had their eyes on his reelection prospects and well understood that spending time abroad could rile U.S. voters focused on the home front. The severe economic downturn made the pressure to limit foreign travel even more intense.

Criticism of Obama’s foreign travel made it a domestic headache. And the 24/7 news environment seems to make it harder for Obama to take a break from his latest domestic message, now focused on the need for a balanced approach to deficit reduction.

“It’s become politically unwise for a president to appear to be enjoying a trip — with the possible exception of an occasional holiday,” said Bill Plante, a CBS News correspondent who began covering and traveling with presidents during the Reagan administration. “To take time to smell the flowers is to open oneself to charges of being a malingerer on the taxpayer dollar. … Seems to me it’s of a piece with today’s unforgiving, accelerated political culture.” ...

On Obama’s current jaunt, he spent 17 hours in Thailand — much of it at his hotel. He spent just six hours on the ground for his landmark trip to Myanmar. And he was in Cambodia for 24 hours for two summit meetings before jetting back to the U.S. All told, he spent about 47 hours on the ground at his destinations and almost as long — 41 hours — in the air and at refueling stops.