G7 Rivals China With Grand Infrastructure Plan

The Group of Seven richest democracies sought on Saturday to counter China’s growing influence by offering developing nations an infrastructure plan that could rival President Xi Jinping’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative.

The G7, whose leaders are meeting in south-western England, has been searching for a coherent response to the growing assertiveness of Xi after China’s surging economic and military rise over the past 40 years. U.S. President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders hope their plan, known as the Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative, will provide a transparent infrastructure partnership to help narrow the $40 trillion needed by developing nations by 2035. The United States later said there was a G7 consensus on the need for a shared approach to China on trade and human rights.