China not taking Russian side on Ukraine issue: envoy

News Desk    |    ০৭:০৩ পিএম, ২০২২-০৩-১৩

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh LI Jiming today said Beijing is not taking a side of Russia on Ukraine issue, rather China wants a peaceful solution to the ongoing Ukraine crisis through dialogue.

 He made the comment as Chinese embassy in Bangladesh hosted an in-person press event titled "Spring Dialogue with China" at a city hotel.
 
The envoy said China maintains that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected and protected and the purpose and 
principles of the UN Charter abided by in real earnest. 

The position of China is consistent and clear-cut and applies equally to the Ukraine issue, he said. Mentioning that both Russia and Ukraine are friends of China, the envoy said China suggested a cool-headed negotiation refraining from emotional attitude regarding the crisis. 

Referred to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen's statement that Bangladesh wants peace, Jiming said China exactly wants the same.

When he was approached to make comment to a recent report carried by Nikkei Asia, titled "India wary of China setting up Bangladesh missile maintenance 
hub," the envoy said, China would not build any military base on any foreign land, including Bangladesh. 

 The Ambassador also shared his thoughts on issues concerning Bangladesh-China relations, Rohingya crisis, infrastructure, trade and investment, QUAD, 
Indo-Pacific Strategy and Taiwan issues.

About the Rohingya issue, LI Jiming said some progresses have been made in commencing the repatriation of the forcibly displaced people to Rakhine as 
the current Myanmar authority has shown some 'constructive' attitude regarding the issue.

 "We are doing our best to repatriate the Rohingyas," he added

 Not detailing, the envoy said, China that has been mediating between Bangladesh and Myanmar to commence safe and dignified volunteer repatriation 
of Rohingyas is expecting to see some progress in resolving the crisis this year. 

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and most of them arrived there since August 25, 2017 
after a military crackdown by Myanmar, which the UN called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" by the other rights groups.

In the last four and half years, not a single Rohingya went back home yet although Myanmar agreed to take them back as the repatriation attempts failed 
twice due to trust deficit among the Rohingyas about their safety and security in Rakhine state.