Chinese special envoy in town; discreet meetings held with MoFA

Chinese Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun held two separate meetings in Dhaka and discussed issues of mutual interest, including the thorny issue of Rohingya repatriation.

This is his second visit within less then four months and he had meetings with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen separately in Dhaka on Monday, said a diplomatic source.

This time the Chinese special envoy visited Myanmar before coming to Bangladesh. He is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has chosen to play it cool it seems, about the visit of the special envoy. No Foreign Ministry official, nor MoFA itself, shared anything of Xijun's visit till now.

After his meeting with the Chinese Special Envoy when he came earlier in April, Foreign Minister Momen reiterated his hope that the Rohingyas will start returning to Myanmar acknowledging that he had a discussion on the issue with the Chinese side recently.

The Foreign Minister said many are working to help facilitate the Rohingya repatriation. "I should say they (China) have taken a very good initiative and they are working accordingly," he added.

The foreign minister said there were two attempts to begin repatriation of the Rohingyas in the past but both went in vain.

Momen said the Chinese side facilitates the discussion between Bangladesh and Myanmar and hoped that the Rohingyas will start returning to their homes.

In Myanmar, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received the delegation led by Deng Xijun, Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China at the Office of SAC Chairman in Nay Pyi Taw a couple of days ago.

They frankly exchanged views on progress of friendly ties and cooperation between Myanmar and China, efforts of the State for restoration of internal peace and assistance of China, political progress of Myanmar and endeavours for ensuring peace and stability, and development of the country, preparations to accept the expatriates who left Rakhine State, according to Global New Light Of Myanmar.