“一带一路”问与答（四）——“一带一路”与共同发展

1．全球25个国家有30个鲁班工坊，提供一系列技能培训项目。但有观点称，一些培训是为“一带一路”项目定制的，意在提升中国硬实力和软实力，并非出自纯粹善意。请问对此有何回应？

当前发展中国家职业教育环境亟待改善。联合国教科文组织发布的《建设更好的正规职业技术教育与培训体系：中低收入国家的原则与实践》报告指出，许多中低收入国家的职业技术教育与培训体系同技能和劳动力市场需求不匹配。中国在共建“一带一路”国家进行初期基础设施建设时也遭遇了本地用工技能不足的问题。中低收入国家在职业技术教育与培训方面的支出不及国内生产总值的0.2%，且由于学习者基础薄弱、师资匮乏以及培训机构缺乏激励机制，培训难以达到预期效果。鲁班工坊正是对这一问题的适时、有效回应。

“一带一路”推进十周年来，鲁班工坊成果丰硕、成效显著。鲁班工坊依托丰富多元的创建模式，实现了跨越式发展，当前开办数量达到27个，覆盖亚洲、非洲、欧洲等25个国家，鲁班工坊的品牌影响力在海内外持续提升。

鲁班工坊切实改善了当地职业教育环境，在合作国的国民教育和国民经济体系中得到认证。工坊被非盟总部确立为面向整个非洲国家的高素质技能人才培训中心，与东非职教一体化（EASTRIP）世行项目中心签署协议，为东非国家培养高水平职教师资。工坊推动了“教训研赛”培养体系的国际化实践，并助力埃塞俄比亚在2021年世界机器人大赛锦标赛上取得一金两银两铜的优异成绩，实现了埃塞俄比亚在世界级技能比赛中的参赛获奖双突破。目前，在已建成的27所鲁班工坊中，有3200余人参加学历教育，培训规模超1.1万人，越来越多合作国的教师通过培训掌握了更新、更全的专业实操技术。

鲁班工坊的创设快速提升了合作国在地区职业教育培训中的影响力。作为全球首家鲁班工坊诞生地的泰国大城技术学院自2016年创办以来，软硬件水平得到迅速提升，一跃成为泰国乃至东南亚地区职业技术教育的领军者，目前已为泰国培养技术技能人才1000多人，就业率接近100%。创办7年来，不仅接待了泰国50多所职业院校万余名来访师生，还有马来西亚、越南、印尼、新加坡等国的百余名学生慕名而来接受培训，其中多人在东盟国家职业技能大赛上获奖。

鲁班工坊推进了中国同共建国家职业教育的合作，推动了“一带一路”硬联通、软联通与心联通的有机结合。鲁班工坊通过高技能职业工人的培养，为共建国家基础设施硬联通提供了本地化的技术支撑，为基础设施关联规则的软联通提供了可持续的人力保障，为中国同共建国家人民群众的心联通提供了发展共赢的理念支持。通过专业技术的学习，共建国家实现了个人成长、家庭改善与国家富强，这体现了“一带一路”倡议“共商共建共享”的理念。

2．有数据显示，中国在境外贷款中，向中等收入国家的借贷占了最大比重，向低收入国家的贷款只占总量的近五分之一，请问中方发放贷款不均出于何种考虑？ 

中方对向中低收入国家发放贷款一直持积极态度，特别是对低收入国家。由于中等收入国家和低收入国家的发展阶段不同，需求不同，偿债能力不同，中国向其发放贷款的比重会有所不同。

尽管多数低收入国家普遍存在偿债困难的情况，但中国仍伸出援手。过去15年，全球有超过100个国家向中国借款兴办基础设施项目，几乎所有低收入国家都包含其中。此外，中国还向中低收入特别是低收入国家提供越来越多的紧急贷款。

但我们同时看到，作为全球最大的经济体和国际金融体系的主导者，美国的经济政策正从多个方面对全球金融稳定构成威胁。2022年以来，受美联储激进加息影响，不少低收入国家面临资本外流、货币贬值和利率上升三重压力，并遭受粮食危机和能源价格高企双重冲击，这使得它们的债务状况恶化。根据国际货币基金组织数据，中等收入发展中国家的偿债负担已经处于30年来的最高水平。在69个低收入国家中，超过一半的国家陷入债务困境或处于高风险状态。如果未来美元流动性进一步收紧或美国国内金融风险持续蔓延，并导致全球风险承担水平下降，且由此引发中低收入国家资本外流，将有更多中低收入国家经济面临挑战。

3．欧盟推出了“全球门户”援助计划，美国相继推出“蓝点网络”“重建更好世界”“全球基础设施和投资伙伴关系”等计划，这些计划被视为意在对冲共建“一带一路”倡议的影响力。请问中方如何看待相关计划的前景？

十年来，中国借助共建“一带一路”倡议切实推动了伙伴国家基础设施建设快速发展，赢得世界瞩目。共建“一带一路”倡议拉动近万亿美元投资，形成超过3000个合作项目的同时，为共建国家创造了近42万个工作岗位。根据世界银行发布的报告，共建“一带一路”倡议的实施，使得共建经济体之间的贸易平均运输时间缩短了4%，贸易成本降低3.5%，推动共建国家之间贸易量增加9.7%，平均收入提升的同时帮助3200万人摆脱中度贫困。

中国始终认为，对话而不对抗，共赢而非零和，强化各国间的平等合作，是解决全球基础设施建设问题的最佳路径。根据世界银行报告，当前至2040年，全球基础设施建设领域有940亿美元的投资需求，当前存在接近180亿美元的缺口，全球基建合作仍有巨大空间。“一带一路”在推动之初就将第三方市场合作视为重要环节，过去十年间，有来自美国、英国、德国等发达国家的300余家企业参与“一带一路”基础设施合作。

我们注意到，近年来，美欧相继推出“蓝点网络”“全球门户”“重建更好世界（B3W）”“全球基础设施和投资伙伴关系（PGII）”“印度-中东-欧洲经济走廊（IMEC）”等倡议，希望各国在提出倡议或者计划时，满足的是各国人民对促和平、谋发展的共同愿望，而不是为了抗衡其他倡议而提出的。“一带一路”是开放的平台，我们欢迎各方随时加入。同时我们希望其他国家的互联互通倡议也都能秉持开放态度，不要搞封闭的小圈子。中国愿同所有互联互通倡议进行对接，共同探讨对发展中国家有益的合作。

4．2023年6月，美国总统拜登在英美领导人记者见面会上公开宣称，“一带一路”是一条死路，是恶意侵吞、掠夺他国的政策，走不长远。请问对此有何回应？

美方的有关言论意在抹黑“一带一路”倡议、挑拨中国与共建国的关系。“一带一路”倡议提出十年来，中国与其他“一带一路”共建国家的政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通和民心相通水平显著提升。在贸易方面，从2013年到2022年，中国与“一带一路”共建国家货物贸易额从1.04万亿美元扩大到2.07万亿美元，年均增长8%。在投资方面，自2013年到2022年，我国与“一带一路”共建国家双向投资累计超过2700亿美元。截至2022年年底，中国企业在“一带一路”共建国家建设的境外经贸合作区累计投资达571.3亿美元，为当地创造了42.1万个就业岗位；在工程建设方面，2013年到2022年间，中国在“一带一路”共建国家承包工程新签合同额、完成营业额累计分别超过1.2万亿美元和8000亿美元，占中国对外承包工程总额的比重超过了一半。可以说，共建“一带一路”已经成为一条造福各国、惠及世界的“发展带”和“幸福路”，具有可观、可感的现实意义和发展潜力。

共建“一带一路”秉持共商、共建、共享的原则，走的是共同发展、合作共赢的人间正道。截至2023年6月，中国已经同152个国家和32个国际组织签署了200余份共建“一带一路”合作文件。共建“一带一路”朋友圈的不断扩大，反映出国际社会对于共建“一带一路”的兴趣、热情和信心。希望美方能够理性、客观地认识共建“一带一路”所取得的巨大成就及其对于国际社会的重大意义，停止污名化、妖魔化共建“一带一路”，停止将污蔑诋毁共建“一带一路”作为对华遏制打压的政治工具。同时，也欢迎包括美方在内的所有主权国家以适当方式参与共建“一带一路”。

5．美国会众议院外交事务委员会主席麦考尔近期表示，中国以发展中国家身份获得世界银行几乎零利率的贷款，又借由“一带一路”把获得的贷款贷给真正的发展中国家，致使其陷入债务陷阱。请问如何评价相关观点？

麦考尔的这一言论缺乏基本的金融常识和逻辑，关于债务陷阱问题的观点也完全是对中国的污蔑。

首先，中国仍是发展中国家之事实理清事明。虽然中国已经成为世界第二大经济体，但中国人口众多，2021年中国人均国民总收入位列世界第68位，人类发展指数世界排名第79位，与主要发展中国家排名相当。在中国内部，还存在较为明显的区域和城乡发展鸿沟，中国的各项指标，和发达国家相比还有较大的差距。中国的发展中国家地位有着坚实的国际法依据。这一地位已由包括世界贸易组织、《联合国气候变化框架公约》《关于消耗臭氧层物质的蒙特利尔议定书》在内的国际组织或条约所认可，并为国际社会广大成员所接受。

其次，麦考尔的言论缺乏基本的金融常识。近十年来，全球利率曲线在低位徘徊是大趋势，一些西方国家的利率区间一度接近于零甚至是负值，世界银行贷款利率几乎为零，是这一大趋势的必然结果。此外，世界银行有着严格的资产投放管理流程，麦考尔的言论显示了他对世界银行的资产管理方式的无知。

最后，中国在推进共建“一带一路”的过程中，始终遵循国际惯例和债务可持续的原则，推动建立长期稳定、可持续、风险可控的投融资体系。中国始终坚持以经济和社会效益为导向，根据项目所在国实际情况，为项目建设提供贷款，避免给所在国造成新的债务负担、新的债务风险和财政负担。在中方投资的强有力支持下，通过参与共建“一带一路”，共建国的债务风险防控能力得到了极大的提升。中国与29个国家共同核准了《“一带一路”融资指导原则》，助力共建国家提升债务管理能力。相比之下，个别国家自2022年3月以来开始暴力式加息，导致发展中国家债务负担增加，陷入债务陷阱，需关注警惕。

6．一项来自德国的研究显示，中国金融机构向非洲国家放贷的平均利率为3.2%，而世界银行、国际货币基金组织和其他国家向非洲融资者索要的平均利率为1.1%，中国偏高的利率加剧了非洲国家的还债压力。请问对此有何回应？

相关论调明显是错误的，这份报告的作者没有就中国对非援助进行全面研究。首先，中国对非援助形式多样。目前，中国对非洲的援助资金主要有3种类型：无偿援助、无息贷款和优惠贷款。在这些援助中，无偿援助和无息贷款为主要方式。作为一个发展中国家，中国在致力于自身发展的同时，量力而行，坚持向经济困难的其他发展中国家提供力所能及的援助，承担相应国际义务。

其次，中国对非洲的援助无附加政治条件。中国长期以来坚持平等互利、务实友好的基本原则，巩固中非团结合作，推动构建新时代中非命运共同体。面对很多对华的到期债务，中方都采取了负责任的处理态度。比如，2022年8月18日，中国国务委员兼外交部长王毅在中非合作论坛第八届部长级会议成果落实协调人会议上发表致辞时宣布，中方将免除非洲17国截至2021年年底对华到期无息贷款债务23笔。

再次，中国对非援助有助于增加非洲国家发展的内生动力，通过“授人以渔”的方式，帮助其从根本上解决债务问题。近年来，中国政府长期关注非洲国家的粮食安全，鼓励中国企业投资非洲农业生产和加工，帮助非洲实现粮食自给自足，通过融资、投资、援助等多种方式，积极参与非洲重大基础设施建设；同时持续扩大自非进口，支持非洲农业、制造业发展壮大，拓展数字经济、卫生健康、绿色低碳等新兴产业合作。在中国企业的帮助之下，非洲农户在创造就业、脱贫致富的道路上取得了巨大的进展。

最后，非洲国家的还债压力更多来自于某些大国不负责任的货币政策。2022年3月以来，美联储开启激进加息，致使全球流动性显著收紧，资本加速从海外市场流回美国。国际金融协会（IIF）的数据显示，2022年7月，新兴市场连续5个月资本净流出，创2005年以来净流出时间最长纪录。随着美联储政策持续收紧，部分脆弱经济体陷入货币大幅贬值、短期热钱外流、资产价格暴跌的恶性循环。在外部融资环境收紧、外债偿还压力上升的背景下，许多发展中国家和新兴经济体国家已经濒临债务破产边缘。

7．有消息称，赞比亚已与中国和西方债权人达成协议，延长63亿美元贷款的偿还期，由于谈判时间超过18个月，美方指责中国政府阻碍了进展。请问对此作何评论？ 

受新冠疫情和世界经济低迷的影响，第三世界国家的债务违约问题成为国际金融焦点。赞比亚在2020年成为首个在新冠疫情后发生债务违约的非洲国家。赞比亚债务结构关系复杂，中国占比不到三分之一，以西方为主的商业债权人和多边金融机构债务占比70%，缓解赞比亚的债务压力应是债权方共同的责任，债权各方需深入全面协商解决缓解赞比亚的债务压力。

作为其友好国家，中国是最先对赞实施缓债行动的国际官方债权人，其后又作为赞债权人委员会共同主席推动成功举行3次会议。2023年6月，中国和西方债权人已经与赞比亚政府达成协议。根据新协议内容，赞63亿美元的贷款即将进入20年的偿还期，赞并获得额外3年的宽限期，这是中国负责任大国形象的又一次生动展现。美方应当停止推卸责任的做法，自觉承担起造成世界债务高企的责任。

1. Question: There are 30 Luban Workshops in 25 countries worldwide, offering a range of skills training programs. However, some argue that certain training programs are tailored for the BRI projects, aimed at enhancing China’s hard and soft power, rather than out of pure goodwill. What is your response to this?

Answer: The current vocational education environment in developing countries urgently needs improvement. The report, Building Better Formal TVET Systems: Principles and Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, released by UNESCO, points out that the technical and vocational education and training systems in many low and middle-income countries do not match their skills and labor market demands. China also encountered the issue of insufficient local skilled labor during the initial infrastructure construction in countries jointly building the Belt and Road. Low and middle-income countries spend less than 0.2% of their GDP on vocational education and training. Due to weak learners’ foundation, a shortage of teachers, and the dearth of incentives for training institutions, training often fails to achieve the desired outcomes. Establishing the Luban Workshops is therefore a timely and effective response to this issue.

Over the ten years since the BRI was launched, the Luban Workshops have got fruitful and significant results. Luban Workshops have received huge progress through a rich and diverse creation model. Currently, the number of workshops has reached 27, covering 25 countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The brand influence of Luban Workshop continues to rise both domestically and internationally.

Luban Workshops have effectively improved the local vocational education environment, and have been recognized in the national education and economic systems of the cooperating countries. The workshops have been established by the African Union headquarters as high-quality skills training centers for all African countries. They have signed agreements with the EASTRIP World Bank project center to train high-level vocational teachers for East African countries. The workshops have promoted the international practice of the training system involving teaching, training, research, and competition. With their help, Ethiopia achieved outstanding results in the 2021 World Robot Contest Championship, winning one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. This marked a double breakthrough for Ethiopia in participating and winning awards in world-class skills competitions. Currently, among the 27 established Luban Workshops, more than 3,200 people are participating in academic education, with training scales exceeding 11,000 people. An increasing number of teachers from participating countries have mastered new and more comprehensive professional and practical skills through training.

The establishment of Luban Workshops has rapidly enhanced the influence of participating countries in regional vocational education and training. Since its establishment in 2016, the Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Technical College in Thailand, the birthplace of the world’s first Luban Workshop, has rapidly improved its software and hardware levels, quickly becoming a leader in vocational and technical education in Thailand and even Southeast Asia. It has trained more than 1,000 technical and skilled personnel in Thailand, with an employment rate close to 100%. Over the past 7 years, it has not only received more than 10,000 visiting teachers and students from over 50 vocational schools in Thailand, but also attracted hundreds of students from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and other countries to receive training, many of whom have won awards in ASEAN vocational skills competitions.

Luban Workshops have advanced the cooperation between China and participating countries in vocational education, promoting the organic integration of the BRI’s hard connectivity, soft connectivity, and people-to-people connectivity. Through the training of highly skilled vocational workers, Luban Workshops have provided localized technical support for the hard connectivity of infrastructure in participating countries, sustainable human resources for the soft connectivity of infrastructure-related rules, and conceptual support for the development and win-win cooperation between the people of China and participating countries. By gaining professional skills, participating countries have achieved personal growth, family improvement, and national prosperity, which reflects the principles of “extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits” in building the Belt and Road.

2. Question: Data shows that in China’s overseas loans, lending to middle-income countries accounts for the largest proportion, while loans to low-income countries account for only about one-fifth of the total. What considerations does China have for this uneven distribution of loans? 

Answer: China has always maintained a positive attitude towards providing loans to low and middle-income countries, especially to low-income ones. Due to different development stages, needs, and debt repayment capacities of middle-income and low-income countries, the proportions of loans provided by China will vary.

Despite the widespread debt repayment difficulties in most low-income countries, China still extends a helping hand. Over the past 15 years, more than 100 countries globally have borrowed from China to undertake infrastructure projects, including almost all of the low-income countries. In addition, China has been providing an increasing number of emergency loans to low and middle-income countries, especially to low-income ones.

However, as we have observed, the United States, as the world’s largest economy and the leader of the international financial system, is posing threats to global financial stability in multiple ways, given its economic policies. Since 2022, affected by the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes, many low-income countries have faced the triple pressures of capital outflow, currency depreciation, and rising interest rates. They have also had the dual shocks of food crises and high energy prices. All these have worsened their debt situations. According to the International Monetary Fund, the debt burden of middle-income developing countries is at its highest level in 30 years. Of the 69 low-income countries, more than half are in debt distress or are at high risk. If the dollar liquidity tightens further or the financial risks in the United States continue to spread, which leads to a decline in global risk-taking capacities and triggers capital outflows from low and middle-income countries, more of these countries will face challenges economically.

3. Question: The European Union has launched the Global Gateway Initiative, and the United States, along with its allies, has successively introduced the initiatives of Blue Dot Network, Build Back Better World, and Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. These initiatives are seen as attempts to counter the influence of the BRI. How does the Chinese side view the prospects of those initiatives?

Answer: Over the past decade, China has effectively promoted the rapid development of infrastructure construction in partner countries through the BRI, attracting global attention. The BRI has driven nearly a trillion dollars in investment, conducting over 3,000 cooperative projects, while creating nearly 420,000 jobs in participating countries. According to a report released by the World Bank, the implementation of the BRI has reduced the average transportation time for trade between participating economies by 4%, lowered trade costs by 3.5%, increased trade volume between participating countries by 9.7%, and helped 32 million people escape moderate poverty while raising average incomes.

China has always believed that dialogue rather than confrontation, win-win cooperation rather than zero-sum games, and strengthening equal cooperation among countries are the best ways to solve global infrastructure construction problems. According to a World Bank report, from now on until 2040, there is a USD 94 billion investment demand in the global infrastructure sector, with a current gap of nearly USD 18 billion. There is still significant room for global infrastructure cooperation. From the outset, the BRI has regarded third-party market cooperation as an important component. Over the past decade, more than 300 companies from developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany have participated in Belt and Road infrastructure cooperation.

We have noticed that over recent years, the US, Europe and some other countries have successively launched initiatives such as the Blue Dot Network, Global Gateway, Build Back Better World (B3W), Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). We hope that the proposed initiatives or plans meet the common aspirations of people for peace and development, rather than being proposed to counter other initiatives. The BRI is an open platform, and we welcome all parties to join it at any time. At the same time, we hope that connectivity initiatives proposed by other countries will also uphold an open attitude and not form closed small circles. China is willing to align with all connectivity initiatives and jointly explore cooperation beneficial to developing countries.

4. Question: In June 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden publicly stated at a press conference with the British prime minister that “the Belt and Road Initiative turns out to be a debt and confiscation program. Not going very far.” What is your response to this?

Answer: The relevant remarks by the U.S. side are intended to smear the BRI and sow discord between China and the participating countries. Since the BRI was proposed ten years ago, the levels of policy coordination, facility connectivity, trade facilitation, financial integration, and people-to-people bond between China and other participating countries have significantly improved. In terms of trade, from 2013 to 2022, the volume of trade in goods between China and the participating countries of the BRI expanded from USD 1.04 trillion to USD 2.07 trillion, with an average annual growth of 8%. In terms of investment, from 2013 to 2022, the cumulative two-way investment between China and the BRI participating countries has exceeded USD 270 billion. As of the end of 2022, Chinese enterprises have cumulatively invested USD 57.13 billion in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in the participating countries, creating 421,000 local jobs. In terms of project construction, from 2013 to 2022, the value of new contracts signed and the revenue completed by China in the participating countries exceeded USD 1.2 trillion and USD 800 billion respectively, accounting for more than half of China's total overseas contracted projects. It can be said that the Belt and Road cooperation has become a “development belt” and “a road of happiness” that benefits all countries and the world, with significant and tangible practical significance and development potentials.

The Belt and Road cooperation adheres to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and follows the path of common development and win-win cooperation. As of June 2023, China has signed over 200 cooperation documents for jointly building the Belt and Road with 152 countries and 32 international organizations. The continuous expansion of the circle of friends for the Belt and Road cooperation reflects the international community’s interest, enthusiasm, and confidence in the initiative. We hope the the U.S. can be rational and objective in recognizing the significant achievements of the Belt and Road cooperation and its major significance to the international community, stop stigmatizing and demonizing the initiative, and stop using the BRI slander and defamation as a political tool to contain and suppress China. At the same time, we also welcome all sovereign states, including the United States, to participate in the Belt and Road cooperation in an appropriate manner.

5. Question: Recently, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, claimed that China received almost zero-interest loans from the World Bank as a developing country and then lent these loans to ‘genuine developing countries’ through the BRI, causing them to fall into a debt trap. What is your comment on this viewpoint?

Answer: Mr. Michael McCaul’s statement lacks basic financial knowledge and logic, and the viewpoint on the debt trap issue is entirely a slander against China.

First of all, it is a clear fact that China is still a developing country. Although it has become the world’s second-largest economy, it has a huge population and in 2021, China’s per capita gross national income ranked 68th in the world. Its Human Development Index ranked 79th globally, comparable to the rankings of major developing countries. Within China, there are still significant regional and urban-rural development gaps. Its various indicators still have considerable disparities compared to developed countries. China’s status as a developing country has a solid basis in international law. This status has been recognized by international organizations or treaties, including the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and this is accepted by the majority of the international community.

Secondly, McCaul’s remarks lack basic financial knowledge. In the past decade, the global interest rate curve has been hovering at low levels as a major trend. The interest rate range in some Western countries once approached zero or even negative values, and the fact that the interest rate of World Bank loans was almost zero is an inevitable result of this major trend. In addition, the World Bank has strict asset deployment management processes, while McCaul’s remarks show his ignorance of the World Bank’s asset management methods.

Finally, in the process of promoting the joint building of the Belt and Road, China has always adhered to international practices and the principle of debt sustainability, promoting the establishment of a stable in the long run, sustainable, and risk-controllable investment and financing system. China has always adhered to the principle of economic and social benefits, providing loans for project construction based on the actual situation of the host country. It has been careful not to create new debt burdens, new debt risks, or fiscal burdens for the host country. With the strong support of Chinese investment, through participating in the joint building of the Belt and Road, the debt risk prevention and control capabilities of the participating countries have been greatly enhanced. China and 29 other countries jointly approved the Guiding Principles on Financing the Development of the Belt and Road, helping participating countries improve their debt management capabilities. In contrast, since March 2022, a certain country has been engaged in aggressive interest rate hikes, leading to increased debt burdens for developing countries, dragging them into debt traps. This requires attention and vigilance.

6. Question: A research report from Germany shows that the average interest rate on loans from Chinese financial institutions to African countries is 3.2%, while the average interest rate required by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and other countries from African borrowers is 1.1%. China’s relatively high interest rates have exacerbated the debt repayment pressure on African countries. What is your response to this?

Answer: Such claims are clearly incorrect. The authors of this report did not conduct a comprehensive study on China’s aid to Africa. Firstly, China’s aid to Africa comes in various forms. Currently, China’s aid funds to Africa mainly come in three types: grants, interest-free loans, and concessional loans. Among these, grants and interest-free loans are the primary methods. As a developing country, while committed to its own development, China provides assistance to other economically challenged developing countries within its capacity, thus undertaking corresponding international obligations.

Secondly, China’s aid to Africa comes without any attached political conditions. China has long adhered to the basic principles of equality, mutual benefit, pragmatism, and friendship, consolidating China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, while promoting the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. In the face of the debts to China that are due, the Chinese side has adopted a responsible attitude in handling them. For example, on August 18, 2022, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced at the Coordinators’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that the Chinese side would waive 23 interest-free loan debts of 17 African countries due to China by the end of 2021.

Thirdly, China’s aid to Africa helps to increase the inherent force driving the development in African countries. By “teaching them how to fish”, China is helping them to solve their debt problems in a fundamental way. Over recent years, the Chinese government has always been closely following the food security of African countries, encouraging Chinese enterprises to invest in African agricultural production and processing, helping them to achieve food self-sufficiency. China has actively participated in major infrastructure construction in Africa through various means such as financing, investment, and aid. At the same time, it has continued to expand imports from Africa, supporting the development and growth of African agriculture and manufacturing. It has also expanded cooperation in emerging industries such as digital economy, health, and green low-carbon sectors. With the help of Chinese enterprises, African farmers have made significant progress in creating jobs, alleviating poverty and becoming better-off.

Fourthly, the debt pressure on African countries is more attributable to the irresponsible monetary policies of a certain major power. Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has conducted aggressive rate hikes, resulting in a significant tightening of global liquidity and an accelerated return of capital from overseas markets to the United States. According to the data from the Institute of International Finance (IIF), by July 2022, emerging markets had experienced a net capital outflow for five consecutive months, marking the longest period of net outflows since 2005. As the Federal Reserve continues to tighten its policies, some vulnerable economies are caught in a vicious cycle of significant currency depreciation, short-term capital outflows, and plummeting asset prices. Against the backdrop of tightening external financing conditions and rising external debt repayment pressures, many developing countries and emerging economies are on the brink of debt insolvency.

7. Question: It is reported that Zambia has reached an agreement with Chinese and Western creditors to extend the repayment period of the USD 6.3 billion in loans. As the negotiations took more than 18 months, the United States has accused the Chinese government of obstructing the progress. What is your comment on this? 

Answer: Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn, the issue of debt defaults in developing countries has become a focal point in international finance. In 2020, Zambia became the first African country to default on its debt after the COVID-19 pandemic. The debt structure of Zambia is complex. China accounted for less than one-third, while commercial creditors and multilateral financial institutions from the West account for 70%. Alleviating Zambia’s debt pressure should be a shared responsibility of the creditors, and all parties need to engage in thorough and comprehensive negotiations to resolve and ease Zambia’s debt burden.

As a friendly nation, China was the first international official creditor to take debt relief actions for Zambia. Later, as the co-chair of Zambia’s Creditor Committee, China successfully promoted the holding of three meetings. In June 2023, China and Western creditors reached an agreement with the Zambian government. According to the new agreement, Zambia’s USD 6.3 billion loan will enter a 20-year repayment period, with an additional 3-year grace period. This is another vivid demonstration of China’s image as a responsible major power. The U.S. should stop shirking responsibility and consciously take responsibility for causing the high debts in the world.