ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: According to the Foreign Office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his first phone conversation to Pakistan's newly-appointed Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and extended an invitation to visit Washington this month.

US Secretary of State  Blinken congratulated his Pakistani counterpart, during the telephonic chat, on his new job and stated his wish to continue building the mutually beneficial Pakistan-US bilateral partnership. "The Secretary of State has also issued an invitation to Pakistan to attend the Ministerial Meeting on Global Food Security in New York on May 18." Blinken also invited Pakistan to the Second Global Covid Summit, which will be conducted digitally later this month, based on the two countries' collaboration in dealing with the pandemic over the last two years.

Bilawal Bhutto emphasised that Pakistan and the United States have a long-standing broad-based partnership as they exchanged views on several issues of bilateral ties. He said that constructive and long-term interaction between the two countries based on mutual respect and shared interests was critical to promoting peace, development, and security in the area and beyond.

Pakistan's vision is centred on human growth, regional connectivity, and a peaceful neighbourhood,  Bilawal Bhutto said. Both leaders agreed to keep in touch and deepen their cooperation on regional and global topics of mutual concern.

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