Signs of change in Myanmar.
In January Karen rebels come in from the cold, signing a peace treaty with the new government ending decades of fighting.
Nobel peace laureate and opposition activist Aung San Suu Kyi, no longer under house arrest, is elected as a member of Parliament.
Myanmar's President is now on the international stage.
At the World Bank IMF meetings in Japan, Myanmar won praise from financial leaders.
On the sidelines of those meetings U.S. Undersecretary for International Affairs Lael Brainard told Reuters she is expecting more change.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. UNDER-SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND TOP U.S. FINANCIAL DIPLOMAT, LAEL BRAINARD, SAYING:
"We're obviously going to be encouraging continued reforms, but our view is that the World Bank, the Asian development bank, that their involvement can help anchor that reform process and make sure that it's inclusive so it delivers for the people of Burma."
The European Union, United States and other countries are already betting on reforms, having lifted or suspended sanctions against the country in recognition of the government's reforms.
