Rohingya crisis: Hong Kong chief executive to visit Myanmar

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is going to visit Myanmar on Saturday at a time when Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is facing global criticism due to alleged atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in the country's Rakhine state, reports The Standard.

"By visiting [Burma] now, Lam is conveying a message to [Burma] on behalf of Beijing that China values Sino- [Burmese] relationship, and it's timely help for Aung San Suu Kyi," The Standard reports quoting James Sung Lap-kung, political commentator in Hong Kong.

Earlier, China expressed backing for Myanmar's efforts to "safeguard stability."

Lam will be in Myanmar mainly for the 14th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, to be held in Yangon on Saturday. Held in various cities once every two years since 1991, the convention aims to give Chinese entrepreneurs and the international business-industrial sector a platform to enhance economic cooperation and understanding, the daily reported.

Lam will also meet senior Myanmar officials in the capital Naypyidaw before returning to Hong Kong on Sunday.

More than 400,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since August 25, with thousands more arriving every day, the Unicef said today.