Belt and Road Initiative’s advantage must be taken by SADC members: Peter Sinkamba

An opposition political party in Zambia on Thursday, April 4 urged member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by coming up with related projects.

Peter Sinkamba, president for the opposition Green Party, said that the BRI is a well-intended initiative meant to bring about connectivity among countries to improve trade. "China's move to embark on connecting the world is a good gesture that will improve intra-trade among countries across the world, so SADC should move in quickly to have a project with BRI," he said.

Infrastructure in most African countries is in a poor state which requires projects under the BRI model, he added. Sinkamba told Xinhua in an interview that those "demonizing" China lack information on BRI and on how to deal with the Chinese, Xinhua reported.

African countries should take advantage of the initiative and open up their countries through well-built infrastructures such as roads and railways, he said. He expressed optimism that BRI will foster intra-Africa trade because of the anticipated massive infrastructure projects.

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