China's New Silk Road Beneficial For Developing States Regardless Of US Criticism -Beijing

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) Developing countries benefit from cooperation with China, as their economies grow and living standards increase, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said on Sunday.

This came as a response to US Vice President Mike Pence's recent criticism of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, within which the country pours investments into infrastructure projects implemented in developing countries. Pence qualified China's loans as "opaque," and the initiative as a "constricting belt" and "one-way road," claiming that it only triggered "staggering" debts.

"We have noted the relevant remarks made by the US side ... On the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, China has conducted good cooperation with many countries around the world, including the mutually beneficial cooperation with the developing countries under the framework of South-South cooperation," Hua said, as quoted on the ministry's website.

She added that China was sticking to the principles of "sincerity, good results, affinity and good faith" in cooperation, as it was willing to contribute to the social and economic development of the poorer states "with no political strings attached" and with respect for the will of these states' governments and peoples.

"Not a single developing country has been mired in debt difficulties because of its cooperation with China. On the contrary, their cooperation with China has helped them enhance their capacity for self-driven development and improved their people's livelihood," Hua added.

The spokeswoman called on the United States to "match its deeds with its words and truly treat all countries" instead of "pointing fingers at others."

The Belt and Road Initiative, announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, is aimed at developing infrastructure and strengthening ties between the Eurasian countries. The initiative focuses mainly on the Maritime Silk Route and on the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt.