China to Use Africa Forum to Defend Belt and Road Initiative

BEIJING —  Beijing’s hosting of a massive forum for African leaders and business representatives next week will give Chinese President Xi Jinping a big opportunity to champion his Belt and Road Initiative, even as it faces pushback and criticism. China launched its trillion-dollar global infrastructure and trade project five years ago, and the policy is now enshrined in the country’s constitution. The collision of both that anniversary and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is providing Beijing with a choice opportunity to link to the two and bring the African continent more squarely under the belt and road umbrella, analysts said. Read more here.