Updated

British Prime Minister David Cameron has signaled he wouldn't oppose easing sanctions on Myanmar if he is satisfied with the country's reforms.

Cameron is due to visit Myanmar on Friday as the first leader of a major Western country to travel there since the relaxation of military rule.

He told reporters while visiting Malaysia Thursday that "just as Britain played a leading role in Europe in placing tough sanctions on that regime to encourage it to reform, so ... if we're satisfied that real change is taking place, we should be the ones not being backward in our response."

The European Union is expected to review policies on Myanmar on April 23. It could ease sanctions holding back entrepreneurs and preventing financial institutions from providing loans.