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China working for solution to Rohingya crisis: envoy


Published : 17 Nov 2019 10:04 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 07:18 AM

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Sunday said China remained engaged since day one to help find a solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis.

“China’s efforts are evidenced by three rounds of informal meetings among China, Bangladesh and Myanmar at the ministerial level, and its commitment to facilitating friendly dialogues and bilateral negations between the two countries directly concerned,” said the ambassador.

The Chinese envoy was addressing a function at the Embassy here marking the formation of a Chinese medical team to be sent to Cox’s Bazar to help the host community as well the Rohingyas, both of whom are suffering due to the prolonged crisis.

Very recently, state councillor and foreign minister of China Wang Yi announced in New York that China would deploy a medical team and charity organisations in Cox’s Bazar for easing the burden on the government and the people of Bangladesh, said ambassador Jiming.

“The team members are ready to set off for the field and do everything they can to help the people in need,” he said.Party secretary of Yunnan Province of China Chen Hao presented flag to the team and declared its formation.

This is the first team which will stay in Cox’s Bazar for a month while the second team will replace the current one.

“With support from Yunnan Province of China, I believe, the team will accomplish its missions at the highest possible standard,” said Ambassador Jiming.

He hoped that the Bangladesh ministries concerned would render their support to the team in the days to come. ‘Let’s work together to see the suffered be taken better care of and the displaced return to their home as soon as possible.’

Leader of the China medical team senior consultant of People’s Hospital of Yunnan Li Bo said they will, through their exquisite medical expertise and high medical ethics, serve the local people selflessly and fearlessly. “We’ll be the envoy of peace between China and Bangladesh.”

He said nations have borders, but medical service is boundless and they will abide by the professional ethics, spread love and friendship.

“We’ll keep in mind the spirit of China foreign aid medical team put forwarded by General Secretary Xi Jinping, which is to fear no hardship, dedicate to the mission, heal the wounded and rescue the suffered with boundless love. We’ll hold respect and fear for life, uphold the dignity of human beings, cure disease and improve the health,” Li Bo said.

He said they will keep in mind the trust of the nation and people, strictly carry out medical practice in accordance with the international norm and the spirit of China medical team in the new era.

State minister for disaster management and relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman, additional health secretary Habibur Rahman, additional disaster management and relief secretary Md Mohsin, deputy secretary-general of Yunnan Province Yang Hongbo, director-general of the foreign affairs office of Yunnan Province Mme Pu Hong, deputy director-general of the department of commerce of Yunnan Province Yu Shukun, president of China Development Bank Yunnan Branch Hong Zhenghua, executive director of Partners in Population and Development (PPD) Adnene Ben Haj Aissa, minister-counselor of the Chinese Embassy Yan Hualong, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy Sun Yan and participated secretary of CPC China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Bangladesh Office Yang Zhijun were present.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and most of them entered Cox’s Bazar since August 25, 2017 amid military crackdown on Rohingyas in Rakhine State.

Not a single Rohingya was repatriated over the last two years due to Myanmar’s ‘failure’ to build confidence among Rohingyas and lack of conducive environment in Rakhine State, officials here said. Bangladesh has so far handed over names of over 1 lakh Rohingyas to the Myanmar authorities for verification and subsequently expediting their repatriation efforts but Myanmar is yet to take back its nationals from Bangladesh, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.