BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Friday to set high standards for Beijing’s sweeping infrastructure-building initiative as fellow leaders praised the effort despite worries it is saddling some countries with too much debt. Xi avoided mentioning debt in a speech at a Belt and Road forum celebrating his signature foreign initiative. The U.N.’s secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, said Belt and Road projects could help turn the balance in mitigating climate change. The Belt and Road is “not an exclusive club” and promotes “common development and prosperity,” Xi said. He promised scholarships for students from Belt and Road countries.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 26, 2019 08:03 UTC