China urges to resolve Rakhine issue with 'constructive help'

World
Europe

Beijing urges the international community to resolve the Rakhine issue with "constructive help."

"The Rakhine ethnic issue is an internal affair and has complex historical, ethic and religious reasons. We think that Myanmar and Bangladesh resolving this issue via dialogue and consultation is the only way to go," said Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign MInistry spokesperson.

China said on Thursday that Myanmar and Bangladesh should resolve the Rakhine issue through dialogue as an UN independent investigator said Myanmar was strongly supported by China.

Yanghee Lee, UN special rapporteur, had been due to visit in January to assess human rights across Myanmar, including alleged abuses against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.

But Myanmar had told her she was no longer welcomed. She said it was alarming that Myanmar was strongly supported by China, which has a veto at the UN's top table in New York.

"We think that the international community should provide constructive help for Myanmar and Bangladesh to resolve the issue rather than complicating the issue," Hua said.

(With inputs from Xinhua.)