China-Africa summit rejects fears of development project debt trap
Beijing — Chinese and African officials on Tuesday rejected criticism of Beijing’s debt-laden overseas development projects as they wrapped up a summit that included a new $60bn assistance pledge for the continent. President Xi Jinping hosted leaders from across Africa amid criticism that China’s Belt and Road global trade infrastructure project is worsening debt problems in some countries. "Everything we do with China is perfectly under control, including on the financial and debt side," said Senegal’s President Macky Sall, whose country took over the co-chairmanship of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) for the next three years. "We shouldn’t let our conscience be disturbed by criticism made regarding the nature of our relations with China," Sall said in remarks alongside Xi and President Cyril Ramaphosa to close the summit. For his part, Xi said the summit "opened a new chapter in the history of China-Africa relations".
Ramaphosa, who handed over the co-chairmans...
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