From November 18-20, President Barack Obama is visiting Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

While the choice of this region as the president’s first trip is a clear statement on Washington’s Asia-Pacific strategy, many of us working in these countries see it as nothing short of a historic opportunity.

The timing of the trip is crucial. Slipping in between the media distractions of the Petraeus scandal and the upcoming fiscal cliff, the president is signaling a renewed commitment to the region, extending a steadying hand to the uncertain transition to democracy in Myanmar, bolstering the elected government of Thailand against the threat of another military coup and likely offering a clean slate to Xi Jinping, the newly appointed leader of the Chinese Communist Party.