søndag 28. april 2019

IMF chief urges China to focus on 'belt and road' sustainability


The head of the International Monetary Fund has warned China against damaging the environment through unsustainable overseas investments as part of its “belt and road” infrastructure initiative.

Christine Lagarde, the IMF’s managing director, used a speech in Beijing on Friday to urge the Chinese government to focus the initiative, which involves spending billions on overseas infrastructure projects to connect China with the world, on sustainable development. Lagarde also said investment should not build up vast levels of debt that could prove problematic in future. “I have said before that, to be fully successful, the belt and road should only go where it is needed. I would add today that it should only go where it is sustainable, in all aspects,” she said.