China shuts down BRI rumors

China on Friday slammed malicious hype and politicization of the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Italy, saying that such moves disrupt cooperation and create division and will hurt others without benefiting itself.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson made the remarks after reports said that Italy is considering not renewing the Belt and Road cooperation document and it has expressed the hope that this would not affect its relations with China and has a willingness to continue enhancing cooperation with China.

Engaging in Belt and Road cooperation is a right choice made by China and Italy based on the two countries' historical and cultural bond and practical need for development, the spokesperson said in an online statement.

The signing of the Belt and Road cooperation document unleashed great enthusiasm and potential for bilateral cooperation, the spokesperson added. Over the past five years, bilateral trade has increased by 42 percent, reaching nearly $80 billion last year.

A decade on since China proposed the BRI, China has signed over 200 cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations.

The initiative has galvanized nearly $1 trillion of investment globally and created more than 3,000 projects and 420,000 jobs for participating countries, according to the Foreign Ministry.

According to World Bank, BRI cooperation will help lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty globally in the mid- to long-term.

Facts have fully shown that Belt and Road cooperation meets development needs globally as well as the international community's aspiration and retains strong resilience and vitality, the spokesperson said.

China stands ready to work with participating countries to advance high-quality BRI cooperation and make greater contributions to promoting global sustainable development and inter-civilization exchanges, the spokesperson added.