Myanmar has reassured China of Rohingya repatriation: Chinese foreign minister
Wang Yi claimed that his country is in constant touch with Myanmar on the Rohingya issue though the US recently said China has done “very little” to help resolve the crisis
Myanmar has assured China once again that it will take back the displaced Rohingya.
The assurance came at recent talks held between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Myanmar authorities concerned.
Wang Yi said this on Thursday while talking to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen over the phone.
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The Chinese foreign minister claimed that his country is in constant touch with Myanmar on the Rohingya issue though the United States of America (US) recently said China has done "very little" to help resolve the crisis.
In a recent telephone briefing, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E Biegun said: "We hope that we see the same level of generosity and the same level of clarity in messages to the government of Myanmar from other partners or other nations in the Indo-Pacific, particularly China, who unfortunately has done very little to help resolve the Rohingya issue and for whom much more should be expected, considering the proximity."
Wang Yi added that Myanmar has told China it would start talks with Bangladesh and work on Rohingya repatriation when the novel coronavirus situation improves, read a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh.
After the election in Myanmar in November, a tripartite meeting will take place at the ambassador level, and later, at the ministerial level involving Bangladesh, China and Myanmar, Wang Yi told Momen.
Yi stressed the need to expedite the preparatory tripartite meeting at senior official level in Dhaka.
The first such meeting was held in New York.
Previously, Bangladesh made it clear that it wants Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be present at the tripartite meeting to discuss Rohingya repatriation issues.
"It won't be done without her presence. She should be there," Momen told reporters at his office recently.
The foreign minister said the prime objective of Bangladesh is to see the return of Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine state, adding that regional and international security would be at risk if the displaced Rohingya are left unattended and not given the opportunity to return to their homeland.
He maintained that India is also agreed on sustainable repatriation of the displaced community of Rohingyas.
The Chinese foreign minister also mentioned that Bangladesh and China are keen to work together on the issue of economic recovery during the post-pandemic period.
He praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership in tackling the pandemic, saying China's assistance to Bangladesh in this regard would continue.
Regarding the killing of a Chinese national in Pirojpur, Wang Yi said the Chinese government is relying on the steps taken by the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens as well as the speedy trial of the murder.
During the conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Momen informed Yi that two people, including the main accused in the case, had already been arrested and a speedy trial would be ensured.
He requested the Chinese foreign minister to renew the visas of Bangladeshi students and researchers, who were stranded due to the pandemic.
Wang Yi said the Chinese government has yet to take any decision about the entry of foreign students into China.
He, however, said if such a decision is taken, Bangladeshis would be prioritised on the list.
Momen thanked the Chinese government for the initiative to translate into Chinese the book "Amar Dekha Nayachin" written by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Repatriation attempts failed twice in November 2018 and August 2019 amid the Rohingyas' "lack of trust" in the Myanmar government.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a deal regarding repatriation on 23 November 2017.
