US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who visited Bangladesh on October 14-16, has laid emphasis on Washington's vision of Indo-Pacific Strategy throughout his visit.
"Throughout his visit, Deputy Secretary Biegun emphasized our common vision of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and secure Indo-Pacific region, with shared prosperity for all," said a statement issued by the US Department of State on Friday, about the just concluded trip of the second senior most US diplomat.
The deputy secretary thanked the people and the government of Bangladesh for their continued generosity in hosting more than 860,000 Rohingyas, and discussed the need for a global response to achieve a more permanent solution, it said.
During his visit to Dhaka, he met with senior Bangladesh government officials to advance the Bangladesh-US partnership on a range of bilateral initiatives, it added.
In his meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and other senior Bangladesh officials, Biegun discussed the United States’ steadfast support for Bangladesh, and the partnership between the two countries to foster long-term economic stability and sustainable development.
He highlighted Bangladesh-US cooperation in public health and combating Covid-19, and announced the upcoming delivery of 100 American-made manufactured ventilators.
Deputy Secretary Biegun delivered two gas analyzers to Health Minister Zahid Maleque and State Minister of ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak to expand the Bangladesh government’s capacity to certify and re-check the effectiveness of all ventilators in the country.
Foreign Minister Momen and Deputy Secretary Biegun jointly announced the establishment of a new Bangladesh consulate in Miami, Florida.
The new consulate, Bangladesh’s third in the US, exemplifies the expanding partnership, including growing commercial and people-to-people ties, between the two nations.
