Dhaka: Bangladesh and the United Kingdom(UK) will hold the first Strategic Dialogue this month to widen the bilateral relation and take it to the next level.

This was agreed between visiting UK Minister for Asia and the Pacific Alok Sharma MP and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali during a meeting held at the state guesthouse Padma on Friday evening.

Minister Sharma expressed optimism that the Strategic Dialogue between Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh and Permanent

Undersecretary of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office will play important role in further strengthening and widening Bangladesh–UK ties and take it to the next level.

Both ministers expressed satisfaction over the existing cordial relations between the two countries.

They discussed issues of mutual interests, particularly focusing on enhanced bilateral trade and investment, according to Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.

Foreign Minister Ali expressed happiness at the involvement of ‘DP Rail’, a UK firm, in constructing the rail link between Payra Port and Dhaka. He encouraged for more UK investments in areas like infrastructure, energy/power, ICT, healthcare services and reiterated that British trade delegation should visit Bangladesh to develop business partnerships.

They also exchanged views on issues of common interests having global and regional importance, including Brexit, revival of Commonwealth ties and Rohingya issue.

Minister Sharma arrived here on Thursday on a three‐day visit to Bangladesh.

He will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday morning.