Washington, Jun 15 (IANS): Pakistan ambassador to the US Sardar Masood Khan met with US President Joe Biden at the White House and discussed building strong basis for taking the ties forward, media reported.

"The US President and the ambassador had a brief conversation on building a strong basis for moving the US-Pakistan ties forward," Dawn newspaper reported quoting a statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy in the US.

Khan visited the White House for a "meet and greet" and an official photograph with the US president, which is an established tradition for newly-appointed envoys, the statement added.

On April 19, Khan had received a letter from the chief of protocol at the US State Department, endorsing his appointment as Pakistan's 'working ambassador' in Washington.

Around 46 other ambassadors were also present there for the official photograph with the President, which was taken one by one.

The White House tried to minimise the president's contact with others as his age, 79, makes him

vulnerable to Coronavirus.

Diplomatic sources in Washington earlier told Dawn that Covid-19 had also hit the credentials ceremony.