Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping today defended his ambitious multi-billion
dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying China has no
"geo-political calculations" and the project will benefit the world.
Touted
as Xi's pet project, the BRI has become a major stumbling block in
India-China relations as the controversial USD 50 billion China Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been listed as its "flagship project".
In
a key speech outlining his vision at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) at
the Chinese city of Boao, Xi said the BRI may be China's idea but its
opportunities and outcomes are going to benefit the world.
"China
has no geopolitical calculations, seeks no exclusionary blocs and
imposes no business deals on others," he said in an apparent reference
to apprehensions that the BRI in which China is investing billions of
dollars in port, road and rail connectivity projects all over the world
is aimed at furthering China's influence.
The BRI focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe.
India
has objected to the CPEC as it is being laid through the Pakistan
occupied Kashmir (PoK) and boycotted a high-profile Belt and Road Forum
organised by China last year.
At the BFA meeting attended among
others by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Xi said, "It
must be pointed out that as the BRI is a new initiative, it is perfectly
natural that there will be different views on cooperation."
"As long as the parties embrace the principle of extensive
consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, we can surely
enhance cooperation and resolve differences," he said.
"This way,
we can make the BRI the broadest platform for international cooperation
in keeping with the trend of economic globalisation and to the greater
benefit of all our peoples," Xi said.
This is the first major speech by Xi after he began his second five-year tenure last month.
He
is widely expected to continue in power for life as China's parliament
has removed the two-term limit for the president through a
constitutional amendment.
PTI
