US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen has said Bangladeshis can never go wrong in the long run by betting on the United States.

He made the remark while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman at his office in the afternoon.

Without elaborating on the issues discussed at the meeting, the US envoy said, “So, I was down here for a very important reason. Last night [Friday], the United States won a resounding victory over Australia in the World Cup, moving on to the next round.

“I was here to encourage the foreign minister and all Bangladeshis to support the United States in the World Cup going forward, because you can never go wrong in the long run by betting on the United States.”

Christensen visited the foreign ministry a day before Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was scheduled to depart for Malaysia and China on his first overseas trip.

UK High Commissioner Sarah Cooke and Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi also called on Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman at the ministry yesterday.

Asked about these meetings, PM’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said they were routine and not related to the prime minister’s China visit.

“We will visit all the countries in the interest of our country, our people. At some point, we will go to India, US and other countries. We are not supposed to consult any other [country] where to go or not,” he told journalists.

The PM's six-day maiden tour of Malaysia and China begins today.

During the first two days of his China visit -- June 23 and 24 -- Tarique will attend the World Economic Forum conference in Dalian, alongside a series of bilateral meetings.