Xi Jinping: China promises more transparency in the Silk Road Initiative
China's Party and Party leader Xi Jinping has promised more openness in implementing the initiative to build a "New Silk Road." In the context of international criticism of China's global economic corridors project, China's president said on Friday, "Everything should be done transparently, and there will be zero tolerance for corruption."
Xi spoke at the opening of a Silk Road Summit in Beijing. The two-day meeting brought together representatives from more than 100 countries, including nearly 40 heads of state and government.From Germany Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) participates.
It is the second summit of its kind after 2017. China's initiative is internationally controversial. Billions are invested in roads, railways, ports and other infrastructure projects. China wants to build new trade routes to Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia. However, critics warn particularly poor countries of a debt trap and political dependency on the government in Beijing.
Criticism of the Federal Government
The Greens' leading candidate for the European elections, Sven Giegold, accused the federal government of being partially responsible for the EU's weak cohesion towards China's actions.Although Germany is the strongest economy in Europe, the Union and the SPD refused to "work more closely with France and block investments that would strengthen Europe," Giegold said. The answer to China's economic expansion could only be an "effective European investment budget".
The lack of solidarity of Central Europe with the economically weaker countries in Southern and Eastern Europe have "created cracks and gaps that China now cleverly uses" to gain political influence, criticized Giegold. It was a "naïve dream to think that Germany could hold its own against the giant power of China," the Green politician continued. Only with a strong Europe could "our free social model and the social market economy assert themselves against an authoritarian Chinese state model".
China's Silk Road Initiative is controversial in the EU. Some countries, such as Italy, Hungary or Greece, have already joined the project. Above all, France meets him with skepticism. Altmaier said that China is a "promising partner and serious competitor for Germany and Europe", therefore a clear strategic orientation towards Beijing is necessary, while safeguarding its own interests.
