Dhaka: Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir held an impromptu meeting with Trkiye’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Berris Ekinci on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meetings in Manila of the Philippines on Tuesday. They discussed the growing partnership between Bangladesh and Trkiye, a senior official told UNB.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman arrived in Manila from New York in the afternoon. The discussions were part of a broader engagement at the ARF, where key diplomatic figures gather to address regional concerns and strengthen international partnerships.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also in Manila to participate in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. He aims to engage with senior government officials from Indo-Pacific countries, as stated by the US Department of State.

Rubio’s visit is aligned with a US strategic objective: promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region that ensures safety, security, and prosperity for both the region and the United States. This trip is intended to highlight the tangible outcomes of the US-ASEAN partnership and to enhance the US’s comprehensive partnership with the Philippines, according to a press statement.