Tribune Desk
Published at June 28th, 2019
File photo: Rohingya refugees gather at a market inside a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, March 7, 2019
Reuters
Dhaka, Beijing is expected to adopt a joint statement
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said, Rohingya crisis will top the agenda of discussions during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to China from July 2 to 6.
“The Rohingya issue will come up as a major topic during the prime minister’s visit … we do believe, after that, Beijing will take a ‘proactive role’ in resolving the crisis [Rohingya repatriation],” he said at a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.
He said the prime minister is visiting China at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. She will join the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, too. She will hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jingping, and Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
During the meetings with top Chinese leaders, the foreign minister said, Dhaka will raise a strong demand so that China puts pressure on Myanmar, for taking back its forcibly-displaced Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh.
Momen said, Dhaka has planned to explain to China that the Rohingya crisis could eventually spread extremist radical elements throughout the region.
“We will tell them [China], if peace and security don’t prevail in the region, the huge Chinese investment in Myanmar as well as in Bangladesh will be threatened,” he said.
Momen said China is sincere about helping Bangladesh in tackling the crisis. “China supports repatriation of Rohingyas, and has advised us to resolve the problem through bilateral negotiations with Myanmar,” he added.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh has been engaged bilaterally with Myanmar, adding: “Bangladesh has no dispute with China in this regard. China always told us that they agree with us [Bangladesh] that Myanmar should take back their people.”
Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar — a vast population which is putting immense economic, social, environmental, and diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh.
The visit will strengthen bilateral ties
Apart from the Rohingya issue, the foreign minister said, the premier’s visit will help further strengthen bilateral ties, as well as trade and investment cooperation between Bangladesh and China.
During the visit, he said, Bangladesh and China will ink eight instruments in different sectors ranging from economic, energy, and ICT to tourism.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque were present at the press briefing.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for China on July 1. She will attend the annual meeting of World Economic Forum (WEF).
The event titled “Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2019”, also known as WEF Summer Davos, will take place in the Chinese city of Dalian.
More than 1,800 leaders from government, business, civil society, academia, and the arts will come together in Dalian next week for the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2019.
Dhaka, Beijing to ink 8 instruments
Bangladesh and China are set to sign eight instruments during the premier's China visit, said the minister.
The eight instruments include five agreements, and three memoranda of understanding (MoUs).
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