China’s Xi looks to Africa to counter aid efforts criticism

Bloomberg

President Xi Jinping was expected to use a gathering of dozens of African leaders in Beijing to push back against criticism that China’s vast development initiatives risked saddling emerging economies with debt.
Xi’s speech recently to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation gives him a high-profile chance to defend his signature Belt and Road Initiative to develop roads, railways, ports, pipelines and other trade links. He possibly previewed his remarks when he told Chinese officials the programme was “open and inclusive” and not about creating “a China club.”
Xi “will stress the importance of consultation and taking African countries’ needs into account,” said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China. But the president’s assurances “won’t quell the skepticism around the globe at once,” Shi said.
While Beijing-backed investment has provided African governments much-needed infrastructure without the West’s political and fiscal demands, it has also generated complaints about China’s preference for loans and reluctance to use local labor. Such concerns have grown as Xi extended his Belt and Road plan across much of the globe and tied it to his ambition of completing his country’s return to great power status.
In recent months, Beijing has faced criticism about its debt practices from countries ranging from Australia to India, with even some Chinese academics airing doubts at home. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned against “ a new version of colonialism” during a visit to Beijing last month after suspending a $20 billion Chinese-built rail project.
The Trump administration, which has described that China’s infrastructure initiatives as a challenge to US influence, is discussing infrastructure investment in the Asia-Pacific region with Australia and Japan.