China Counters New York Times Charges that New Silk Road Is Geopolitics

“Since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward two years ago, more than 60 countries along the Belt and Road and international organizations have responded positively to participate in the initiative. Many countries have signed cooperation agreements or reached consensus on aligning strategies with China. A range of multilateral and bilateral major cooperation projects are making steady progress. All these give full expression to the fact that the Belt and Road Initiative corresponds to the development needs of countries and regions along the Belt and Road, meets the common interests of relevant parties, and conforms to the trend of regional and global cooperation.

“The Belt and Road Initiative will elevate the level of connectivity between the Eurasian continent and other continents, help inland countries diversify their corridors for economic growth, energy transportation and trade, enable countries along the Belt and Road to create demands and jobs, and drive the overall recovery of the world economy, which benefits all countries around the world.

“The Belt and Road Initiative is an open and inclusive initiative for regional cooperation. It is not a tool for geopolitics. China has no geopolitical motives that seek the so-called sphere of influence, and will not impose its will on others. The Chinese side will continue to adhere to the principle of jointly building the initiative through consultation to meet the interests of all and deepen practical cooperation in various fields with countries along the Belt and Road so as to achieve win-win results.”