The file photo shows that army officers are seen in a drill during joint anti-terrorism exercises with officers from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Sept. 8, 2005 at Kenya's Defence College in Karen, southern Nairobi. (Xinhua/AFP)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States is looking forward to expanding its relationship with Africa in trade and investment and countering terrorism, said a top U.S. diplomat on Friday in Washington.

Addressing a ministerial meeting with the African Union, U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson said that Africa is a growing market with vast potential and the current U.S. administration will focus their bilateral economic relationship on trade and investment.

Bilateral trade and investment between the United States and African countries have been growing in the past years. U.S. exports to Sub-Saharan Africa grew from 17 billion U.S. dollars in 2010 to over 25 billion dollars in 2014, according to statistics from the U.S. government.

The U.S. direct investment in Africa jumped to a record high of 57.5 billion dollars last year.

"The United States sees even more opportunity ahead in the coming years," said Tillerson in the meeting with the 55-member Continental body.

The top U.S. diplomat also mentioned that the United States will seek to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with African countries, including addressing "the root causes of violent extremism."