PM seeks China’s support in resolving Rohingya crisis

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday sought China’s cooperation in resolving the protracted Rohingya crisis, citing the pressure on Bangladesh from hosting 1.3 million displaced people from Myanmar.

He made the request during a meeting with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the Prime Minister’s Office at Secretariat.

At the meeting, Tarique highlighted the economic, social, demographic and environmental pressures Bangladesh has been facing due to the prolonged presence of 1.3 million Rohingyas and sought China’s cooperation in resolving the crisis, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.

Liu said China  is aware of the Rohingya crisis and that he would convey the Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s concerns to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the meeting, Liu conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s greetings to the Prime Minister.

In response, Tarique extended his greetings to Xi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Liu said a joint declaration on a new era of future bilateral relations was issued during Tarique’s visit to Beijing, expressing hope that the two countries would expand areas of cooperation in line with the declaration.

He reaffirmed China’s continued support for Bangladesh’s development and progress, saying Beijing’s commitment to Bangladesh remained unchanged.

He also expressed confidence that bilateral relations would deepen further and voiced optimism about Bangladesh’s economic growth and development under Tarique’s leadership.

Tarique said the foundation of Bangladesh-China relations was laid during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
The relationship has long held a special place in the hearts of the people of both countries, he said.

The Prime Minister said it is now their responsibility to preserve the historic ties and carry them forward for future generations, expressing hope that the friendship and cooperation between the two countries would grow further through the new generation.

Recalling Ziaur Rahman’s visit to China, Tarique said the canal-digging programme was launched in Bangladesh following that visit and later gained widespread popularity, contributing to agricultural development.

He said the present government has  also taken an initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals, which would benefit farmers and ordinary people while helping protect biodiversity and maintain environmental balance.

Both sides stressed the need to strengthen communication and cooperation between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the CPC at the party level.

Liu expressed China’s interest in expanding and diversifying ties between the two parties and invited a BNP delegation led by its secretary general to visit China.

The Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor also came up for discussion at the meeting.

Liu expressed China’s support for Bangladesh’s inclusion in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The meeting also discussed continued Chinese support for Bangladesh’s development and ways to increase people-to-people and political-party contacts between the two countries.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, MP, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam were present.

Liu was accompanied by Chinese Embassy Charge d’Affaires in Bangladesh Liu Yuyin, Peng Xiubin, Director General of the CPC International Department’s Bureau of Southeast and South Asian Affairs, and other senior officials.�"UNB