Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday stressed the need for continuation of dialogue between Myanmar and Bangladesh to resolve the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
Addressing a press briefing in the city, Mr Kono who arrived in Dhaka on the day also laid emphasis on 'safe, dignified and voluntary return of the displaced persons to Myanmar.
Mr Kono held bilateral talks with Bangladesh foreign ministry officials at state guesthouse Meghna in the city.
Lauding the role of the Bangladesh government and people in hosting such a large number of refugees, he also mentioned that Japan was providing assistance to Myanmar for infrastructural development of Rakhine state, home to Rohingyas.
He said Japan was committed to act as a development partner of Bangladesh and Japanese investment in the country was growing.
He pointed out that the issue of security of Japanese people in Bangladesh also came up in the discussion.
Mr Kono said Japan was undertaking specific programmes in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps so that the people in the refugee camps can face the challenges emerged from the monsoon calamities like landslide.
At the beginning of his statement, he hoped that the ongoing student movement could be solved 'in a peaceful manner'.
Addressing the briefing, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said he and the Japanese foreign minister shared views on the process for early repatriation of the 'forcibly displaced people' to Myanmar and their subsequent resettlement.
"Japan understands that there is a compelling reason to create conducive atmosphere in Rakhine state of Myanmar for safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas and we have shared some specific proposals in this direction," he said.
Mr Ali said both Bangladesh and Japan agreed on the vital importance of stability in the region for building stronger economic partnership between the two countries and early repatriation of safe and secure return of the Rohingyas is a key.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com