The US says its planned dialogue with Burma's military rulers must be part of a "sustained process of interaction".
The State Department says the Burmese leadership has for the first time shown an interest in engaging with the US, and Washington intends to pursue that.
But it says sanctions will remain until there is progress on human rights.
Also on Monday, Burma's Prime Minister, Gen Thein Sein, told the UN General Assembly that sanctions were "unjust" and should be stopped.
Gen Thein Sein - the most senior member of the Burmese government to appear at the UN for nearly 15 years - vowed to take "systematic steps to hold free and fair elections" next year. read more
