China says 37 world leaders or heads of government will arrive in Beijing next week for its second Belt and Road forum to discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping’s grand infrastructure project.
But the United States won’t be among them.
“Some countries, when it can’t succeed, it doesn’t want others to succeed. This sour grapes mentality is to no-one’s benefit,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in comments believed to be directed at Washington.
Wang shrugged off claims that China was creating “debt traps” for other countries. He said the focus of the forum would be making “high quality development” the priority of Belt and Road projects. Projects needed to be suitable for host countries, and meet international regulations and best practice, he said.
“Belt and Road is a joint undertaking, not unilateralism or China First.”
The forum run for three days from April 25, with a world leader’s roundtable expected to produce a communique on Saturday April 27.
China’s increasing investment in the Pacific has prompted Australia to unveil its own infrastructure fund for the region, to offer an alternative source of funding.