BRI can propel Africa's development

That Italy recently became the first G7 country to join the Belt and Road Initiative sends a strong signal that this is the beginning of a new era for multilateralism. The memorandum of understanding signed between Beijing and Rome under the Belt and Road framework during President Xi Jinping's visit to Italy last month is a message to other European Union member states to join the China-proposed initiative.

Some countries have been spreading rumors that the Belt and Road Initiative is a "debt trap" for many of the countries, especially the developing ones, participating in the initiative. Those opposed to China's idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind love to criticize the initiative. But have they offered any solutions to the infrastructure problems facing most of the developing countries?

The idea of Western countries giving development aid to developing countries so the latter continue to "worship" them while lagging far behind in terms of development is phasing out thanks to China's Belt and Road agenda, which has helped many countries improve their infrastructure facilities. Kenya, for one example, now has a railway line connecting Nairobi and Mombasa.