Economics
Xi Seeks to Address Concerns Over China’s New ‘Silk Road’ Plan
- Plan should give ‘sense of gain’ for nations involved, Xi says
- Initiative criticised as tool to serve China’s own interests
Xi Jinping.
Photographer: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images for IAAFThis article is for subscribers only.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is seeking to assuage international concern that his three-year-old signature initiative to revive an ancient trading route linking China and Europe is only about serving his nation’s interests.
Speaking at a conference on the "One Belt, One Road" initiative in Beijing on Wednesday, Xi called for a step up in the implementation of projects to provide "a solid sense of gain” to all the countries involved. He also requested better risk assessment and security for the projects along the route that passes through countries prone to wars, terrorist attacks and political instability.