Rohingya repatriation

China has assured the foreign minister of encouraging Myanmar to start the repatriation of the displaced persons to the Rakhine State.

State councilor and foreign minister of China Wang Yi told his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen that his country China would continue to host trilateral meetings among China, Bangladesh and Myanmar to provide a platform.

This will ensure the early return of the displaced people, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson on Saturday.

Referring to the meeting between the two foreign ministers held in Beijing on Friday, the spokesperson said the meeting took place on the sidelines of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to China.

Wang Yi said, "China will enhance and strengthen bilateral relations with Bangladesh to realise the objectives of strategic partnership of cooperation as was decided at the Bangladesh -China Leaders' Summit held in Dhaka in October 2016.

The Chinese foreign minister mentioned that President Xi Jinping hosted a banquet in honour of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina where both leaders had free exchange of thoughts.

He also said that the Summit talks reflected mutual trust and friendship that exists between Bangladesh and China.

Both the foreign ministers agreed that solution to the Rohingya crisis will contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Dr. Momen insisted Myanmar needs to create "conducive" conditions like the assurance of safety and security for the displaced people so that the Rohingya can return.

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