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DHAKA, March 13, 2022 (BSS) - 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.