What’s behind the G7’s rival to China’s ‘Belt & Road’ initiative?
Leading industrialised nations promote ‘democratic’ alternative to China’s infrastructure project
China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” has helped to finance trillions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure projects in the developing world.
But critics accuse Beijing of using the scheme to trap poorer nations under its influence into debt.
The G7 group of the world’s leading industrialised nations is offering what US President Joe Biden calls a “democratic alternative”.
China has slammed the proposal as “sinister”.
Will developing nations stand to benefit from this latest push against Beijing?
Presenter: Dareen Abughaida
Guests:
Brett Bruen – former director of global engagement in the White House under President Obama
Sanusha Naidu – senior research fellow at the Institute for Global Dialogue, a South African think tank
Einar Tangen – political analyst and economic development specialist focusing on China