US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin hailed what they both described as "excellent" ties between the two countries and expressed hopes for reaching a deal soon on a US visa waiver programme for Bulgarians.
Speaking to journalists after one-on-one talks in the Bulgarian capital, Rice described Kalfin as "a good friend".
The Bulgarian minister, for his part, said ties between Bulgaria and the US "have never been better."
"Strategic partnership, friendship and trust is what we share," Kalfin said.
"For us, close dialogue with the United Stated and cooperation between the European Union and the US is of extreme importance," the minister said.
Both Rice and Kalfin said that progress had been made towards reaching a visa waiver programme for Bulgarians wanting to travel to the United States. But neither gave any indication as to when such a deal might be signed.
Also on the agenda of talks was cooperation in the US-led coalition in Iraq and the NATO-led ISAF security force in Afghanistan, and the joint use of three US military bases in Bulgaria.
"We share common principles of democracy and fight side by side to defend these principles in different points in the world," Kalfin said.
Bulgaria currently has some 155 soldiers in Iraq and 400 troops in Afghanistan, and has recently taken a decision to boost its presence in Kabul by another 50 soldiers.
Rice and Kalfin also discussed NATO's future enlargement to include Ukraine and Georgia, Macedonia's progress towards joining NATO and the EU, the situation in Kosovo and energy security.
US plans to install an anti-missile shield in Europe were not discussed.
Bulgaria has long pressed to be covered by the shield so as to enjoy the same level of security as other neighbouring central European states, such as Poland and the Czech Republic, where the shield is to be installed.
Kalfin told national radio earlier that Bulgaria would press NATO for observing its principle of ensuring the same level of security for all its members.
"We raise the question, but raise it within NATO, that the alliance should make a joint effort to ensure the same level of security to all its members," he said.
Kalfin and Rice both welcomed rising investment by US companies in Bulgaria.
During the brief stopover in Sofia on Wednesday, Rice also met Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev.
She was in Bulgaria to receive the country's highest state honour, the Stara Planina, for her role in freeing a year ago six Bulgarian medics jailed in a Libyan AIDS case. Rice received the medal from President Georgy Parvanov.
