Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Wednesday said that Myanmar had assured China to start repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Cox’s Bazar camps as soon as possible.

‘China is actively involved in mediating the repatriation of Rohingyas to the Rakhine State from Bangladesh. They [Myanmar side] are working on preparations for the repatriation. They can start this as soon as possible,’ he said while responding to a journalist in the DCAB Talks at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

He, however, said that the Myanmar side had not yet set any specific date in this regard.

Li Jiming said that they had to wait more for a conducive time for the repatriation that must  be safe, voluntary and dignified.

China was working hard for that, the envoy added.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh president Rezaul Karim Lotus moderated the talks where the Chinese ambassador responded to questions from DCAB members.

Bangladesh earlier sought China’s strong role in repatriation of the forcefully displaced Rohingya as not a single Rohingya returned to Rakhine state since the signing of instruments between Bangladesh and Myanmar in late 2018 for repatriation of Rohingya.

The number of the Rohingya people staying in Cox’s Bazar camps crossed 11 lakh following the 2017 influx when around seven lakh persecuted Myanmar nationals fled military crackdown in the Rakhine state to Bangladesh for shelter, according to officials.

At least two attempts to start the repatriation of the refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar failed as the Rohingyas refused to return home without a guarantee of their citizenship and security.