By AFPMore by this AuthorUNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES,The United States on Friday clashed with China at the UN Security Council over Beijing's Belt and Road initiative, saying the infrastructure investment scheme had "known problems" with corruption and debt distress. US Acting Ambassador Jonathan Cohen accused China of demanding that the resolution highlight the Belt and Road initiative "despite its tenuous ties to Afghanistan and known problems with corruption, debt distress, environmental damage, and lack of transparency." COOPERATIONThe UN resolution on the Afghanistan mission has contained language on cooperation with the Belt and Road initiative since 2016. The United States has sought to challenge the Chinese scheme but the initiative continues to draw support. On Monday, Italy said it would sign a memorandum of understanding to officially support the Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: Daily Nation March 16, 2019 04:30 UTC