Clinton enlisted the help of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose leaders including Myanmar's premier are due to meet US President Barack Obama at a regional summit here this weekend.
"We would like to see countries individually and through ASEAN reach out to the Burmese leadership, persuade them to start planning for free, fair and credible elections in 2010," Clinton said, using the country's former name.
"Certainly China has the opportunity to play a very positive role, as does Thailand, India and other ASEAN countries."
With the Obama administration trying a new approach of engaging with Myanmar's military junta, Clinton said it was in the interests of the regime's neighbours to push for democratic reforms.
"It is also important to recognise that left alone, the international problems within Burma are not confined within Burma's border," she said, noting that refugees have flowed into Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.
"That instability isn't good for anyone," she said.
The United States last week sent two senior officials to the isolated state to try to promote a new dialogue after years of shunning the junta.
However, Clinton said that despite the "thorough and constructive" meetings including with detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, "there is a lot of work to do" and progress would not be "easy and quick".
