Newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Zhang Zuo yesterday said there is no quick solution to the Rohingya crisis.

Claiming that China has "no personal interest" in the issue and will remain impartial, Zuo said his country would make genuine efforts to help Bangladesh and Myanmar resolve the crisis.

The ambassador made the observations at his maiden press briefing at the Chinese embassy in Dhaka when repatriation of Rohingyas faces huge challenges due mainly to a conducive condition yet to be ensured in Rakhine.

More than 700,000 Rohingyas fled persecution in Myanmar and entered Bangladesh following a military crackdown on them in Rakhine since August 25 last year. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation deal in late November to begin repatriation on January 23, but the process yes yet to begin.

The Chinese envoy said, "China understands the situation and pressure you face on this issue, respects your concerns and appreciates your effort to provide the homeless people with shelter and humanitarian aid despite all the difficulties of your own and external pressures."

He added the dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar made some positive progress as the two countries have signed a repatriation agreement, set up a joint working group and reached a consensus on specific arrangements on the repatriation.

Zuo claims China has been trying to persuade Myanmar to take more active steps regarding the Rakhine issue. He said his country is urging Myanmar to attach greater importance on and respond to the concerns of Bangladesh, address the first repatriation list handed over by the Bangladesh side as soon as possible and receive and settle it at an early date.

"As a neighbour to both Bangladesh and Myanmar, China is willing to play a constructive role in accelerating the repatriation process. China also hopes that Bangladesh and Myanmar maintain the current positive trend," said the ambassador, who arrived in February.

However, the UN Security Council could not take effective actions and resolve the crisis for objection by veto powers of China and Russia.

Responding to the upcoming parliamentary elections, Zuo said China expects a smooth general election in Bangladesh and that the country will have steady development.

Talking about China's development projects, he said a number of cooperation projects are being implemented in Bangladesh involving over $10 billion under the joint efforts of the two governments as well as companies from the two sides.

He further said his country would continue to advance the high-level exchanges between the two sides in various ways, enhance communications between the parliaments, parties and government departments, and strengthen the political mutual trust.

The ambassador said China and Bangladesh are going to hold the 12th China-Bangladesh Diplomatic Consultation, 2nd dialogue on maritime cooperation, joint working group meeting on free trade agreement and 1st round of consular consultation, among many other important bilateral events.

Regarding Bangladesh's joining in the Road and Belt Initiative, he said it brought many concrete benefits and results for both the countries, adding, the momentum of cooperation between the two sides is going forward.

Bangladesh formally joined the Road and Belt Initiative during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Dhaka in 2016.