Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday asked China to help find a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis, citing the economic, social and environmental strain of hosting about 1.3 million refugees from Myanmar.

He made the appeal at a courtesy meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office with Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Liu said he would convey Bangladesh’s concerns to President Xi Jinping, and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to Dhaka’s development.

Liu said the joint declaration issued during Tarique Rahman’s visit to Beijing had opened a new chapter in bilateral ties. He also voiced Chinese support for Bangladesh’s proposed accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The two sides discussed the proposed Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and ways to deepen ties between the CPC and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Liu invited a BNP delegation, led by the party’s acting secretary general, to visit China.

Tarique Rahman recalled the partnership’s foundations during the presidency of Ziaur Rahman, and said his government had launched a drive to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals nationwide.