<span style="background-color: transparent;">Bangladesh wants to elevate its relationship with the US from partnership to the strategic level. Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A K Abdul Momen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have expressed their willingness to further deepen Bangladesh-US relations by advancing common goals and mutual interests.<br />''<br />''Foreign Minister Dr. Momen is on a visit to the US during which he held a telephonic discussion with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.<br />''<br />''The US state department said that Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Momen discussed ways to deepen economic, counterterrorism, and defense cooperation related issues. Both leaders expressed the desire for closer collaboration to address challenges in South Asia and the greater Indo-Pacific region.<br />''<br />''According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Bangladesh both the countries agreed to enhance mutual cooperation on global issues. The US Secretary of State sought favourable policy support from Bangladesh to promote more trade and investment between the two countries. <br />''<br />''Foreign Minister Dr. Momen welcomed US investment in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and high tech parks. Both sides expressed the hope that US companies would take advantage of the competitiveness of Bangladesh and invest in areas like ICT, energy, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure development.<br />''<br />''Bangladesh also underscored the need for the early repatriation of the fugitive Rashed Chowdhury who is the self confessed killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.<br />''</span><br />''<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000;">Foreign Minister Dr. Momen welcomed the return of the US to the Paris Climate agreement and hoped that the new US administration will be more involved with climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.</span><br />