Bangladesh has announced the Indo-Pacific Outlook and the United States is keen to help implement that vision.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Afrin Akhtar welcomed Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook in response to a question at the plenary session of the Indian Ocean Conference on Saturday (May 13), saying, ‘We support it and are keen to help Bangladesh realize this vision.’
He said that what has been said in the outlook is consistent with the US position, such as the law-based system in the Indo-Pacific, connectivity, infrastructure development and other issues.
Afrin said that there was a partnership dialogue between Foreign Secretary Masoud Bin Momen and Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of the US Department of State, and there Nuland mentioned welcoming the Americans.
On the integration of South Asia, he said, South Asia still remains one of the least integrated regions in the world; especially, in trade and people-to-people contact, which is a major cost factor for the region.
He said, ‘Our Indo-Pacific Strategy has made clear our belief that the positive vision we have for the region cannot be achieved without working through our joint capacity building partnership. Building and facilitating regional infrastructure is critical to this endeavour.’