Belt and Road Initiative is built on cooperation, spokesman says

Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the second session of the 13th National People's Congress. [Photo by Kuang Linhua/chinadaily.com.cn]

China takes debt sustainability in Belt and Road cooperation very seriously, and the country will never impose its will on others, a spokesman for this year's parliamentary session said on Monday. 

Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the second session of 13th National People's Congress, told a news conference that the Belt and Road Initiative is guided by the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. 

"At the same time, it follows market principles and aims to achieve high-quality development," he said. 

He said that decisions are made jointly by all participating parties during the BRI cooperation, whether it is project selection or investment and financial cooperation. 

He noted that, as with any other international cooperation initiatives, the Belt and Road Initiative is faced with its own problems, risks and challenges during its implementation. 

"But as things move forward and experiences are accumulated, it will improve along the way and deliver greater gains for partner countries," he said. 

Zhang said the BRI is meant to enhance connectivity, and with that create more opportunities for China and world economic growth, and it complements the existing multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Zhang noted that 67 countries signed cooperation agreements with China in 2018, which took the total number to 152, including international organizations. 

"Parties have collaborated closely in fields related to connectivity and we have seen good results. In many specific sectors, many multilateral mechanisms were established, and they are up and running. 

"In my view, all this progress shows that the Belt and Road Initiative really responds to the call of the times for win-win cooperation," he said.