Chinese Communist Party Minister Calls on PM at Secretariat, Dhaka Seeks Beijing's Help on Rohingya Issue

Liu Haixing, minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who is visiting Bangladesh, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday. At the meeting, Bangladesh and China pledged to strengthen their bilateral strategic partnership and further widen the scope of economic cooperation. The prime minister's Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin confirmed the meeting.

During the call, Liu Haixing handed over formal greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. In reply, the prime minister also conveyed sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

The CPC International Department minister noted that, following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to Beijing, a new horizon has opened in the two countries' mutual relations. Saying China's firm support for Bangladesh's overall progress and economic transformation will remain unchanged in future as well, he expressed deep confidence in the prospects of national growth under the current leadership.

Recalling the historical context of the two countries' relations, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the strong foundation of Bangladesh-China friendship was laid by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and that it has over time taken a permanent place in the hearts of the two peoples. Holding on to this traditional bilateral bridge and making it more fruitful for future generations is one of the priorities of the current administration, he noted.

The prime minister further noted that, inspired by former president Zia's China visit, the historic canal-digging revolution began at that time to develop agriculture and irrigation. In the light of that philosophy, the current government is implementing a programme to dig 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country for agricultural development and protection of the environment and biodiversity.

At the meeting, both sides placed special importance on increasing party-level political contact between the Communist Party of China and the BNP. Liu Haixing formally invited a delegation led by the BNP's acting secretary general to visit Beijing.

China's clear policy support was also conveyed for implementing the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar economic corridor and for Bangladesh joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Asia's large trade bloc.

Highlighting the severe crisis that the nearly 1.3 million Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh have brought upon the national economy, social stability and the environment, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman sought Beijing's diplomatic cooperation. In reply, the Chinese minister acknowledged the sensitivity of the Rohingya issue and promised to bring the matter directly to the attention of President Xi Jinping.

On the Bangladesh side, the high-level meeting was attended by BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, party Vice Chairman and MP Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs-2 Shama Obaid Islam.

The Chinese delegation included China's Charge d'Affaires in Dhaka Dr Liu Yuyin and Peng Xiubin, director general of the CPC International Department's Bureau for Southeast and South Asian Affairs, along with senior officials.