Xi tries to ease debt worries, says Belt and Road not an exclusive club

Xi said: “Facts have proved jointly building the "One Belt And One Road" has not only provided new opportunities for the development of all countries in the world, but also opened up new horizons for China's opening-up and development.”

In an attempt to put to rest worries about the cost of Belt and Road projects trapping poor countries with unmanageable debts and creating regional hegemony, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said “Belt and Road is not an exclusive club” and that projects will be transparent and will have zero tolerance for corruption. China signalled its intention to address concerns of debt financing by putting forth “sustainable financing” options for smaller countries to ease debt burden.