China’s Belt and Road project is not a “geopolitical tool” or a debt crisis for participating nations, but Beijing welcomes constructive suggestions on how to address concerns over the initiative, stated Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi, the government’s top diplomat, Reuters reported.

The new Silk Road, the main initiator of which is President Xi Jinping, envisages the reconstruction of the old Silk Road to connect China with Asia, Europe and beyond with massive infrastructure spending.

China will hold the "One Belt - One Road" summit on April 25-27. It will be attended by the leaders of 37 states, including the closest allies of China, such as Pakistan and Russia, as well as

Italy, Switzerland and Austria. However, a US delegation criticizing the project will be represented by low-level officials.

“This partnership relationship is not a geopolitical tool, but a platform for cooperation,” he said. “Of course, there is a development process for the Belt and Road. You can’t get there in one step, and it’s unavoidable it will cause some worries during its development. So we welcome all sides to come up with constructive suggestions."

However, many western capitals, in particular Washington views it as merely a means to spread Chinese influence abroad and saddle countries with unsustainable debt through nontransparent projects.  The United States particularly criticized Italy’s decision to join this project.

Despite the fact that the United States and China are currently trying to end the trade war, they have differences on a large number of other issues, including human rights and Washington’s support for Taiwan.