China’s top diplomat says 40 state leaders will attend belt and road forum in April
- Meeting will welcome representatives of more than 100 countries, Yang Jiechi says
- Politburo member dismisses claims infrastructure plan creates debt traps for Beijing’s partners
The leaders of “about 40” foreign governments and representatives from more than 100 countries will attend next month’s Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China’s top diplomat said on Friday, while rejecting claims the initiative is a debt trap for nations taking part.
Yang Jiechi, a Politburo member and former foreign minister, announced the numbers in an interview with Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, saying that about 40 foreign leaders had confirmed their plans to attend the global gathering.
A diplomatic source said in an interview that Beijing had been working hard to meet its target to have 40 leaders at the event, which it regards as the main event in its diplomatic calendar this year.
He also took the opportunity to reject accusations that Beijing was using the initiative as a “geopolitical tool” that left its partners in financial difficulty.
“No country has been left in a debt crisis after taking part in the belt and road plan,” he said. “Quite the contrary, it is through cooperation that many countries have got out of the ‘no development’ trap.”