China is ready to support the Teesta River comprehensive water-management project if Beijing receives a revised project proposal from Dhaka, said Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh Yao Wen after meeting Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday.
While talking to reporters after the meeting with the foreign minister, the envoy said that they had discussed Chinese projects in general. The envoy was questioned about China's stance on the Teesta initiative.
The ambassador said that China awaits Bangladesh's response to its previous request for a revised proposal to reduce the project's scope and cost.
Bangladesh sought Chinese funding for the project two years ago. After reviewing the initial proposal, China requested Bangladesh to revise it by shrinking the project's size and budget.
On the topic of foreign currency support, the envoy said that both China and Bangladesh will collaborate to navigate the global economic challenges.
Regarding the Rohingya issue, he acknowledged the difficulties but urged continued faith in the collaborative efforts of Bangladesh, Myanmar and China towards a solution.
"We face some difficulties, but we say we need to be confident that under the joint efforts by Bangladesh, Myanmar and China, we made very little progress in terms of repatriation. Now, China is working with Myanmar," Ambassador Yao Wen commented.
The envoy said that due to China's mediation, the Myanmar government and some insurgent groups recently signed ceasefire agreements. China now expresses its wish for a ceasefire in Rakhine State to facilitate repatriation.
"We hope we will have another ceasefire in the States so that the repatriation process can be started very soon. China will continue to play its role," he added, expressing hope for repatriation to begin shortly after a ceasefire.
Separately on Sunday, the new Foreign Minister also received courtesy calls from the envoys of the United Nations and Nepal.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said that during his meeting with the Chinese envoy, he requested China to take steps to address the huge trade imbalance favouring China.
The foreign minister mentioned the envoy's assurance that Beijing is working to address this issue, including the planned import of mangoes, jute goods, leather and seafood from Dhaka this season.
Both countries, the minister added, are working towards a free trade agreement to help reduce the trade imbalance.
During the meeting with the UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis, Dr Mahmud said they discussed humanitarian support and Rohingya repatriation.
"I have told her that though the UN secretary-general has congratulated the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the January 7 national elections, the statement issued by the Office of the UN Human Rights Commissioner contradicted that tone," said the foreign minister.
"And I told her that the UN human rights office got biased and motivated reports," he said.
While talking to reporters following the meeting with the foreign minister, UN Resident Coordinator Ms Gwyn Lewis said they discussed Rohingya refugee situation, financing for the response and the current insecurity in the camps.
"So they were some of the issues we touched on and the joint work that we will do together over the coming months".
"We talked about the insecurity in Myanmar at this moment and the fact that it's incredibly tense and that there's more displacement in the country. So the security situation was really, really difficult," she added.
The UN envoy said that the foreign minister reassured her again that Bangladesh is only in favour of safe and dignified repatriation, which, she says, is also the stance of the UN.
"I explained to the minister that we are doing what we can in Myanmar to provide humanitarian support, but the situation is very difficult. So it is not a good time for repatriation," she said, adding that while repatriation remains a priority for both the Rohingya community and the government, the current circumstances hinder its feasibility.
Expressing concern over the lack of funding for vital services, Ms Lewis said, "But in the meantime, we are very concerned about the humanitarian situation and the minister committed to helping us fundraise for the joint response plan."
This plan, due to be launched in Geneva in the coming weeks, intends to secure resources for providing basic necessities to the Rohingya population.
"We have a shortage of financing for basic services like food and that is a continued concern. And there is insecurity in the camps partly as a result of lack of adequate basic services and financing," she mentioned.
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