[BEIJING] China has never forced debt upon participants of its new Silk Road project as 'prejudiced' critics have suggested, the country's top diplomat said on Saturday in a strongly worded defence of a key policy platform of President Xi Jinping Read more at The Business Times.
"This obviously shows a lack of objectivity and fair understanding of the Belt and Road initiative. It is a misunderstanding, misjudgement and is even prejudiced," wrote Mr Yang, a former foreign minister and ambassador to Washington."The Belt and Road is open, inclusive and transparent. It does not play little geopolitical games. It does not engage in the exclusion of exclusive small circles.
Mr Yang noted that many countries, companies and ordinary people participating in the Belt and Road project had"publicly refuted rumours" about it being a debt trap. Belt and Road projects, from their selection to their financing, go through careful risk assessments and the initiative's principles stress sustainable development, he said.
"For cooperative partners who have debt difficulties, China's principle is to appropriately resolve this through friendly consultations, and has never pushed or forced debt" on anyone, Mr Yang added. To date no participating country has faced a debt crisis - to the contrary many countries have been able to escape the"no development trap", he wrote.Mr Yang said almost 40 foreign leaders would take part, but did not name them.
Some of China's closest allies have already confirmed they will come, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
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