This year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The progresses and achievements of the BRI have drawn plenty of attention from domestic and international media attending this year’s Two Sessions. 

Africa is an important participant in the BRI. Fifty-two African countries as well as the African Union Commission have already signed cooperation agreements under the initiative. Over the past decade, under the framework of the BRI, a large number of projects have taken root and yielded fruitful results in African countries. However, Western media have accused that the BRI can cause so-called “debt traps” in Africa. 

During the Two Sessions, ChinAfrica held a dialogue with Rwandan Ambassador to China James Kimonyo to hear his comments on the significance of the BRI for the independent development of African countries, as well as his views on some of the denigration of the BRI and the so-called “debt trap” in Africa.  

“That’s a very ridiculous assertion, because what is ‘debt trap?’ The trap is supposed to be something hidden that you don’t know about. But what I know, at least from where I sit, the projects that are implemented in Rwanda under this initiative are negotiated between the governments of Rwanda and China,” Kimonyo said.  

“China will not lend without analysis. As far as I know, the Chinese side will spend even three years to fully investigate and analyse before lending, and provide loans for project construction based on the actual situation of the country where the project could generate economic and social benefits,” Kimonyo told ChinAfrica. 

 Kimonyo said that Africa’s debt problem is essentially an issue of development. The solution to the problem is to enhance Africa’s independent and sustainable development capacity. “African countries should ensure that funds are used to promote their own development,” he said.