Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China’s U.S. embassy, rejected the notion that Chinese investments were violating people’s rights. In an email, Liu said the country’s Belt and Road Initiative, the umbrella for its overseas infrastructure investments, aims to support green economic growth.
“The founding purpose of the BRI is to advance China’s cooperation with partner countries following the principle of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, to help them develop the economy and shake off poverty, which is a human right they need more than any other,” Liu said.
In Hungary, academics and environmentalists say, the investments have been accelerated by lax oversight and fast-tracked permitting. Orbán’s government eliminated the country’s environment ministry after coming to power in 2010 and has cracked down on protests and dissent more broadly.
After Kozma began…
