Xi's Belt and Road Forum sets Chinese tone for globalisation

Singapore

CHINA will ask 28 world leaders to sign on to President Xi Jinping's signature initiative on globalisation, bolstering a range of Chinese foreign policy objectives, according to people familiar with the draft communique. Not everyone is yet in agreement.

The Belt and Road Forum is Mr Xi's cornerstone initiative to connect China with Europe, Asia and Africa through infrastructure projects. Not only is it a showcase for Mr Xi's globalisation credentials that he championed in a speech at Davos in January, but the high-profile event will also serve as a counterpoint to America's inward pivot under President Donald Trump.

A draft communique combines commitments to open international markets with endorsements of China's diplomatic goals, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak publicly. The communique will oppose protectionism and warn that the global tradi…