Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday vowed to stick to international rules and standards as he appealed for more countries and global financial institutions to join Beijing’s controversial trade and infrastructure scheme. In a subtle shift since he launched the “Belt and Road Initiative” six years ago, Xi’s pledges over the past two days on debt sustainability, environmental protection and corruption control show Beijing is trying to expand its policy by paying heed to international concerns, according to analysts. The president’s conciliatory tone during the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing was apparently aimed at critics in the United States, India, Japan and major European powers.
