US Secretary of State Marco Rubio received Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in Manila on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

The two sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States, said a statement issued by the foreign ministry.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and US Ambassador to India and US President’s Special Envoy to South and Central Asia Sergio Gor were present at the meeting.

Rubio congratulated Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The Bangladesh foreign minister invited the US secretary of state to visit Bangladesh.