Australia, the United States, India and Japan are talking about establishing a joint regional infrastructure scheme as an alternative to China’s multi-billion-dollar "Belt and Road Initiative" in an attempt to counter Beijing’s spreading influence, according to a senior US official. The US official told Australian Financial Review that the plan involving four regional partners was still "nascent" and "wont be ripe enough to be announced" during Turnbulls visit, but was being seriously discussed. However, the idea is expected to be discussed during Australias Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visit in Washington DC this week, possibly during a scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump. The source describes the plan as an "alternative" to the Belt and Road Initiative rather than a "rival", adding that "no one is saying China should not build infrastructure." Representatives for Turnbull, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Trade Minister Steven Ciobo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, asked at a news conference about the report of four-way cooperation, said Japan, United States, Australia, and India regularly exchanged views on issues of common interest, according to Reuters. “It is not the case that this is to counter China’s Belt and Road,” Suga indicated. China’s Belt and Road plan was first mentioned during a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s to university students in Kazakhstan in 2013 for funding and building global transport and trade links in more than 60 countries.