"China has sought to defend its ailing “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) from mounting international criticism ahead of an important summit in April to fine-tune the multibillion-dollar infrastructure investment programme. National People’s Congress spokesman and former foreign affairs vice-minister Zhang Yesui refuted concerns that the project, estimated to be worth US$900 billion, lacks transparency and creates debt traps for participants, especially developing countries. “China attaches great importance to the problem of debt sustainability and will neither force others to cooperate on projects nor create any traps,” Zhang said at the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing on Monday. “Obviously, like other international cooperation initiatives, there will be some difficulties, problems, risks and challenges during the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative..."