With eye on China’s BRI, G7 unveils $600bn infrastructure plan

SCHLOSS ELMAU (Munich) In an important step to provide a democratic alternative to counter China’s Belt and Road initiative, the G7 leaders have unveiled $600 billion plan to fund infrastructure projects in low income and middle income countries. The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment  (PGII) will  deliver returns for everyone, said US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit meeting at Schloss Elmau, the luxury Alpine resort in Bavaria that is hosting the summit of the world’s wealthiest nations. “I want to be clear. This isn’t aid or charity. It’s an investment that will deliver returns for everyone,” he said. Mr Biden touted the G7 infrastructure scheme as a showcase “the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies.” The plan envisages raising $600bn over five years to fund the launch of infrastructure projects in middle and low-income countries. The US has decided to raise $200bn (£162bn) of the amount through grants, federal funds and private investment.  The EU has announced a further 300bn euros (£257bn). The initiative, designed to counter China’s predatory financing, will help tackle tackling climate change, improving global health, achieving gender equity and building digital infrastructure. The new project seeks to present a “positive powerful investment impulse to the world to show our partners in the developing world that they have a choice,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.