TEHRAN, September 03 - China hosts African leaders Monday for a summit aimed at promoting Beijing's vision for development on the continent.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders from across the continent will meet at the two-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with talks expected to focus on Xi's cherished "Belt and Road" infrastructure programme.
The massive scheme is aimed at improving Chinese access to foreign markets and resources, and boosting Beijing's influence abroad.
It has already seen China loan billions of dollars to countries in Asia and Africa for roads, railways, ports and other major infrastructure projects.
But critics warn that Xi's pet project is burying some countries under massive debt.
A study by the Center for Global Development, a US think-tank, found "serious concerns" about the sustainability of sovereign debt in eight Asian, European and African countries receiving Belt and Road funds.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his African counterparts Sunday that Xi will use the summit as an opportunity to outline a "specific vision on building a China-Africa community with a shared future, and announce proposals and measures... to strengthen China-Africa cooperation".
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, currently the chair of the African Union, said talks of "debt traps" were attempts to discourage African-Chinese interactions.
"Another perspective... is that those criticizing China on debt give too little," said Kagame in an interview with the official Xinhua news agency.
Source: AFP
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