WASHINGTON (AP) — After years of decrying oppression against Myanmar’s democracy leader, the United States is getting to celebrate her freedom as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomes Aung San Suu Kyi to the State Department at the start of her landmark tour of America.

Nine months after they met at the Nobel laureate’s crumbling lakeside villa in Yangon, Suu Kyi and Clinton today were to discuss the political changes in the country also known as Burma and whether Washington should ease its remaining economic sanctions in response to the reforms.

Hours before Suu Kyi touched down in Washington on Monday, Myanmar announced a new round of more than 500 prisoner releases, reportedly including political detainees. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the U.S. has yet to identify those freed and declined to comment on whether the U.S. could soon waive its import ban.

Since Suu Kyi herself was freed from house arrest in late 2010 she has transitioned from dissident to parliamentarian. Now confident of her position in Myanmar and free to travel abroad without being barred from returning, Suu Kyi has in the past four months also visited Thailand and Europe.

She’s assured of star treatment in the U.S., where she’s revered by Democrats and Republicans alike. The ceremonial highlight of Suu Kyi’s 17-day U.S. visit will come Wednesday when she is presented Congress’ highest award, which she was granted in absentia in 2008 when she was still under house arrest. She also is likely to be welcomed to the White House.