(BSS) – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today urged China to help resolve the protracted Rohingya crisis, saying the presence of around 1.3 million Rohingyas is putting heavy economic, social, demographic and environmental pressure on Bangladesh.

He raised the issue during a courtesy meeting with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the Prime Minister`s Office at Bangladesh Secretariat this morning, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.

Liu said China was aware of the crisis and would convey the Prime Minister`s concerns to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties. Liu conveyed Xi Jinping`s greetings to the Prime Minister, who in turn sent his greetings to Xi Jinping and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang.

Liu recalled the joint declaration on a new era of bilateral relations, made during the Prime Minister`s visit to Beijing, and hoped cooperation would expand in line with it.

He said Beijing`s commitment to Bangladesh`s development remained unchanged and expressed confidence in the country`s economic growth and development prospects under Tarique Rahman`s leadership.

They also discussed the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. Liu said China supports Bangladesh`s inclusion in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Both sides stressed closer party-level ties between the CPC and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Liu said China wants to expand and diversify these relations and invited a BNP delegation led by its Secretary General to visit China.

The Prime Minister said the foundation of bilateral relations was laid under Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and that it was now their responsibility to carry the friendship forward to future generations.

He recalled that Ziaur Rahman`s visit to China was followed by the launch of a canal excavation programme in Bangladesh, which gained wide popularity and boosted agriculture.

The present government, he said, has taken up an initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals to benefit farmers, preserve biodiversity and maintain environmental balance.

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Vice-Chairman Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam were present.

The Chinese delegation included Chargé d`Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Dr Liu Yuyin, Director General of the CPC International Department`s Bureau of Southeast and South Asian Affairs Peng Xiubin, and other senior officials.