China has rejected The Hindustan Times report, describing it as being based on false information. The Indian daily, in an article published on 4 February 2019, claimed that it accessed a report by the Ministry of External Affairs which pointed out that Pakistan withdrew from the Diamer-Bhasha dam project because of unacceptable conditions of ownership and finance that were imposed by China, adding that projects in Nepal and Bangladesh were also facing stiff opposition.
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"Conditions of the projects cited in the report of the Indian side are far from the fact. For instance, the Diamer-Bhasha dam project was not included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project list. The West Seti hydropower project in Nepal is a commercial project and the enterprises concerned are having consultations over specific details such as the economic feasibility of the project. As to the allegation that China Harbor Engineering Company was blacklisted by Bangladesh, I have learned that it could not be further from the fact," Hua Chunying, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday during a regular press conference.
More than 150 countries and international organisations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China.
"We never impose on others or attach any unacceptable conditions. Each and every project is the result of equal consultations. A particular project or two might encounter difficulties or problems, but that does not change the fact that Belt and Road cooperation has contributed to participating countries' economic and social development and has won wide support," Hua Chunying added.
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China is set to host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April this year.
