China wants 'visible' progress

China has asked Myanmar to make the Rohingya repatriation process visible.
"From the beginning of this crisis, China has been trying to resolve this problem peacefully through bilateral and multilateral means. And China wants to see repatriation of refugees as soon as possible," Chinese Ambassador in Bangladesh Zhang Zuo said on Sunday.
Responding to a question after a workshop on media cooperation between China and Bangladesh, the envoy said that China emerged as a mediator of the negotiation between Myanmar and Bangladesh as it considers both these two neighbours as important friends in the region.
Referring to the recent meeting between Bangladesh foreign minister and his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, he said that China suggested three steps to resolve the deepening crisis.
"First immediate end of violence in Rakhine, second, starting the repatriation as soon as possible and third development of the Rakhine state," he added.
He said that both Myanmar and China had agreed to the Chinese proposal which was evident in the signing of the arrangement on Rohingya repatriation by the two countries in last November.
Responding to a question on trial of the perpetrators who unleashed atrocities against Rohingyas in Rakhine, he said both Bangladesh and Myanmar should resolve the situation in a comprehensive manner so that relations between these two neighbours would not be affected in the long run.
Earlier, addressing the workshop, information minister Hasanul Huq Inu stressed the need for strengthening the media cooperation between the two countries to deepen the mutual understanding between the two countries.
Political counsellor of the Embassy Chen Wei moderated the workshop held at the Chinese Embassy in the capital.
Terming China as an important development partner of Bangladesh, the information minister said both the countries had closer ties historically and it reached to a new height after the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping in October of 2016.
"Our strong relationship with China does not affect our ties with neighbouring countries, specially the SAARC countries. In fact, both SAARC and BCIM move forward for the benefit of the teeming millions of this region," he said.
He assured all kinds of help from the information ministry in bolstering the media cooperation between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador in his speech mentioned that under the Belt and Road Initiative, media cooperation between the two countries would be vibrant.
Senior journalist Reazuddin Ahmed urged China to make Bangladesh-China media exchange programme more frequent.
Joint Editor of the Financial Express Shamsul Huq Zahid recommended taking of professional approach in building such cooperation.
"I hope instead of picking 'chosen one ' as done by many countries, China will take professional approach in forging media cooperation with other countries including Bangladesh," the FE joint editor said.
Among others, UNB editor Mahfuzur Rahman, UNB executive editor Reaz Ahmed, deputy editor of New Age Farid Ahmed, executive editor of the Independent Shamim Zahedy, Chief News Editor of NTV Zahirul Huq and CEO of ATN News Munni Saha addressed the session.

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