The Burmese government will immediately send a letter of congratulations to US President-elect Donald Trump following the Republican candidate’s victory over Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton in the US general election, according to President’s Office Deputy-director Zaw Htay.

“We will send a letter of congratulations from our country’s leaders. The United States, throughout its history, has played a major role in Burma’s democratic reform process. Its support, as well as that of the international community at large, will continue to play a crucial role in our democratisation and national reconciliation process,” said Zaw Htay.

“I believe that the relationship between the USA and Burma can only get better under President Trump,” he said. “Now the Republicans will dominate both the US senate and congress, and their candidate also will become president. Looking to the past, it was Republicans such as such as John McCain and Mitch McConnell who led the push for democratisation in Burma.

“They passed resolutions to impose sanctions on Burma to push for change. They have always supported our democratic reforms.”

Meanwhile, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party MP Ye Tun opined that a Donald Trump victory could help Burma in dealing with the international community over the Rohingya crisis.

“If Hillary [Clinton] won, she would probably put pressure on Burma, despite her personal acquaintance with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to give citizenship to that certain group of people which our citizens totally cannot accept,” said Ye Tun. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi might not have the nerve to change the 1982 Citizenship Law, but Donald Trump could have a better understanding of these situations.”

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The Shan lower house MP continued: “He [Trump] is more likely to approach the issue in a more practical way. His government’s view on immigration issues may not be much different from that of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s government because both of them face similar kinds of threats, and now they can better understand one another.”