Myanmar junta chief-Yunus talks likely during Bimstec summit, Rohingya issue on agenda
Chinese President Xi Jinping also reiterated China’s support for the early repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals
Highlights
- Bangladesh and Myanmar may hold high-level talks on Rohingya repatriation at Bimstec summit
- Myanmar's junta chief seeks a bilateral meeting with CA Yunus
- CA Yunus pledged to work with the UN for Rohingya repatriation by Eid next year
- China reaffirmed its support for early Rohingya repatriation
A top-level discussion between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the Rohingya repatriation issue is likely to take place during the upcoming summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) in Thailand on 3-4 April.
Myanmar's junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, is seeking a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, according to sources from Bangladesh's foreign ministry.
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This could be the first significant engagement, as Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus pledged, in the presence of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres earlier this month, to collaborate with the UN to ensure that the Rohingyas can return to their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state by Eid next year.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping also reiterated China's support for the early repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (the Rohingyas) to Rakhine during his recent meeting with Yunus in Beijing.
A source within the Myanmar wing of Bangladesh's foreign ministry told TBS, "The Myanmar side has recently expressed interest in holding a high-level meeting during the Bimstec summit. However, Bangladesh has yet to formally respond as this is a matter of high-level concern."
"If the meeting takes place, the Rohingya issue will definitely be discussed. However, we are still not yet certain about the fate of the Bimstec summit in light of the massive earthquake in Thailand," the source said.
The Bangladesh side will take a positive move regarding the issue as Rohingya repatriation is a priority. During the meeting, other bilateral issues will also be discussed.
Reuters reported yesterday that Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will join the summit in Thailand next week, where he is seeking high-level bilateral meetings, in a rare visit to a Southeast Asian country since seizing power in a coup that led to a civil war.
Min Aung Hlaing is the subject of widespread Western sanctions and is barred from attending summits of the Southeast Asian bloc Asean due to the Myanmar military's failure to implement an agreed peace plan with the bloc.
Aside from Bangladesh's chief adviser, the meetings being sought include ones with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, read the report.
An Indian government source said Myanmar officials had made "overtures" to New Delhi seeking a bilateral meeting between the junta chief and Modi, but added that India had not taken a decision so far.
Asked by Reuters if the Myanmar general was attending, Thailand's foreign ministry said all leaders of Bimstec member countries have confirmed their attendance.
During Chief Adviser Yunus's visit to China, the Rohingya issue was discussed with top Chinese leaders. China, as a key partner of Myanmar, has emphasised the importance of bilateral discussions between Bangladesh and Myanmar regarding the Rohingya repatriation issue since its massive influx in late 2017. The country also plays a key role as a negotiator on the issue.
