G7 set to agree ‘green belt and road’ plan to tackle China’s influence

G7 set to agree ‘green belt and road’ plan to tackle China’s influence

Leaders of the G7 leading western economies will on Sunday back a western rival to China's "belt and road“ initiative, in a plan to mobilise billions of dollars to help developing countries tackle climate change.

Joe Biden has been leading calls to offer poor countries a new source of infrastructure finance, providing a "democratic“ alternative to Chinese loans, which are seen in the west as a tool to spread Beijing's influence.

The G7 summit in Cornwall will agree what allies of Boris Johnson, the summit host, call a "green belt and road“ plan, with richer countries helping fund schemes that reduce carbon emissions.

Johnson wants to focus on supporting green initiatives and has been wary of presenting the initiative as an "anti-China“ move. British officials say they want the G7 to "show what we are for, not who we are against“.

But the White House favours a wider package of infrastructure support and is explicit about wanting to provide a new counterweight to China's influence.

"We have a slightly narrower focus,“ said one British official.

On Saturday G7 leaders held talks to co-ordinate China strategy. "There was broad agreement that we should co-operate with Beijing on things like fighting climate change, compete in areas like global