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China belt and road ‘not ideological’ foreign minister tells conference
- Wang Yi’s remarks to 29 partner countries appear to be a response to G7 alternative’s emphasis on values
- Wang announces the initiative will prioritise green projects and form platform for Covid-19 vaccine distribution
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Amber Wangin Beijing
China’s Belt and Road Initiative has no strings attached and is open to all, said Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a subtle dig at the US plan to form an alternative infrastructure funding programme based on democratic values.
Speaking at a high-level meeting on international cooperation through the belt and road in the Asia-Pacific region, Wang said China’s plan did not impose political conditions or ideological bias.
“Every cooperation we carry out has no political conditions attached to it, neither is it imposed on others from the so-called ‘status of power’, and it will not pose a threat to any country,” he said, via video link on Wednesday to senior officials from 29 countries taking part.
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Although he did not directly refer to it, his remarks appeared to be aimed at the Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative announced by the G7 this month, billed as a “values-driven, high-standard and transparent infrastructure partnership led by major democracies to to help narrow the US$40+ trillion infrastructure needs in the developing world”.
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US President Joe Biden said the initiative would be “much more equitable” compared to China’s belt and road plan.
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