U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday that her country will exchange ambassadors with Myanmar in recognition of the reform pursued by the Southeast Asian nation.

"As I said last December, the United States will meet action with action," the top U.S. envoy said in a statement to the press. "In consultation with members of Congress and at the direction of President Obama, we will start the process of exchanging ambassadors with Burma (Myanmar)."

"We will identify a candidate to serve as U.S. ambassador to represent the United States government and our broader efforts to strengthen and deepen our ties with both the people and the government," she said.

She applauded recent developments in Myanmar, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners on Friday, and the ceasefire agreement reached a day earlier between the government and the Kayin National Union, the country's largest anti- government ethnic armed group.

She also spoke of other "important steps" taken by Myanmar's civilian government since taking office in April 2011, including easing restrictions on media and civil society, engaging opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a "substantive" dialogue and amending electoral laws to pave the way for her National League for Democracy party to participate in the political process, and setting a date for the by-elections this year.

Clinton set foot on Myanmar in December last year, making her the first U.S. secretary of state ever to visit the country in more than 50 years. Her visit was followed by other U.S. and foreign officials.

She cautioned that the move of exchanging ambassadors is a " lengthy process" that will depend on "continuing progress and reform" in Myanmar.

"But an American ambassador will help strengthen our efforts to support the historic and promising steps that are now unfolding," she remarked. "I have also instructed my team at the State Department to identify further steps that the United States can take in conjunction with our friends and allies to support the reforms underway."

"And I intend to call President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi this weekend to underscore our commitment to walk together with them on the path of reform," she added.