ZCZC
BSS-18
BD-CHINA-ROHINGYA
China assures of helping Rohingya repatriation
DHAKA, June 29, 2018 (BSS) – Beijing today assured Dhaka that China will help repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people of Rakhine State of Myanmar from Bangladesh.
The assurance came during a bilateral talk between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi held at Beijing, according to message received here.
Around 700,000 Rohingya people influx Bangladesh from Maynmar’s Rakhine state since last August following the brutal military actions dubbed by UN as “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” by rights groups.
During the meeting, Wang Yi committed full support of China in realizing early repatriation of the displaced people to Rakhine State of Myanmar.
He also said China will help Myanmar in improving resettlement environment in the Rakhine by building houses and creating economic opportunities for Rohingyas there.
Ali briefed the Chinese side on the status of the 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, the Rohingyas, who have taken temporary shelter in Bangladesh early years and recent times.
“The displaced Rohingyas are so traumatized that they want solid security guarantee for their return. They want to return to their original villages and not to any camps, they must be accorded opportunities to earn their livelihood,” he emphasized.
Bangladesh foreign minister sought China’s active support in expediting the process of early repatriation of these displaced people by encouraging Myanmar in creating a conducive environment in the Rakhine state for return and resettlement of the forcibly displaced people.
The two foreign minister also discussed the progress achieved in implementation of the different projects that were signed during the Chinese President’s Xi Jinping to Bangladesh in 2016.
Both sides called for continuation of dialogue between the two countries through high-level interactions as well as people-to-people contacts and agreed to work together closely for the common development of the region.
Later, Chinese Foreign Minister invited Bangladesh Foreign Minister to an informal meeting where Union Minister of the State Counselor’s Office of Myanmar Kyaw Tint Swe, who is now on a trip to China, joined.
During the meeting, the ministers shared ideas on early repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Earlier on the same day, Mahmood Ali called on the Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan.
The minister briefed the Vice-President about the milestone achievements of Bangladesh under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, especially in socio-economic areas.
Wang Qishan evinced keen interest in various development programmes in Bangladesh and assured China’s continued support to further consolidate and deepen our bilateral cooperation.
Wang Qishan commented “China rejoices at the graduation of Bangladesh from LDC status to a developing country”.
Bangladesh Ambassador to China M. Fazlul Karim was present among others during these meetings.
Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali is visiting Beijing from 28-30 June 2018 at the invitation of the State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi.
BSS/PR/TA/MRU/1737hrs