The vice-minister of the international liaison department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Li Jun, has assured the visiting Awami League delegation that the Chinese government will put pressure on the Myanmar government to resolve the Rohingya crisis permanently. Li Jun gave the assurance during a meeting with the 18-member AL delegation, led by its presidium member Lt. Col. (retd.) Muhammad Faruk Khan, in Beijing yesterday (Monday).

Faruk Khan and AL joint general secretary Dipu Moni raised the Rohingya issue and called upon the Chinese ruling party delegation to put pressure on the Myanmar government to take back the Rohingya refugees in their homeland.

“China will try to convince the Myanmar government for holding talks with Bangladesh, as we think that a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis is a must for ensuring peace in the region,” said Li Jun.

Deputy office secretary of the AL and member of the delegation, Biplab Barua, confirmed the development to The Independent over telephone from China.

Dipu Moni sought an effective role of the Chinese government in solving the Rohingya problem after describing the inhuman torture on Rohingyas that forced them to flee Myanmar's Rakhine state. In reply, Li Jun said: “We are well

aware of the Rohingya crisis and have already talked about it with the Myanmar government to find a peaceful and permanent solution to the matter.”

China will play a positive role in the international arena for repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, he added. “We are respectful to the AL government's humanitarian behaviour towards the Rohingyas. We will send relief, which includes blankets and tents, on September 27 in response to the initiative of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh (for Rohingyas),” he said, adding that the assistance will be continued.

The delegation includes AL's cultural affairs secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, information and research secretary Afzal Hossain, legal affairs secretary SM Rezaul Karim, forest and environment affairs secretary Delwar Hossain, international affairs secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed, and central committee members Nazibullah Hiru, Riazul Kabir Kawsar, Dipankar Talukder, and Remon Areng, and lawmaker Habibe Millat.