A U.N. envoy hailed talks between detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and a newly appointed official of Myanmar's military junta, but said Friday that the meeting was just the beginning.

"We welcome that," said Ibrahim Gambari, in Tokyo for talks with top Japanese officials as part of a six-nation tour to put pressure on Myanmar to end its crackdown on democracy advocates.

"But it's only the first step, so this should lead to early resumption of talks that will lead to tangible results," Gambari said after meeting with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.