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Belt and Road Initiative a game changer in Asia-Pacific: UNESCAP

Xinhua, May 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Belt and Road Initiative will enhance cooperation and integration in Asia-Pacific region and will be a game changer here, said an official from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) at a seminar held here on Wednesday.

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, under secretary general of (ESCAP), said the unprecedented mega Belt and Road Initiative, which is inclusive and sustainable while respects national sovereignty, is consistent with the work plan of her commission as the initiative reinforces regional connectivity and entrenches supportive facilitation mechanism.

"The Belt and Road Initiative comprises 65 countries, of which 23 are ESCAP members, we are indeed grateful for China to have recognized that,"said Akhtar, adding that the initiative could be a platform for regional cooperation in implementing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

In September 2015, all 193 member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 agenda, laying out a path over the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and protect the planet.

Akhtar was invited last month to Beijing and signed a proposal on jointly boosting regional connectivity and the initiative with Chinese foreign ministry.

Qian Hongshan, assistant foreign minister of China, said at the seminar that China is willing to work with ESCAP in the practice of the initiative to build a high-level regional connectivity and economic cooperation framework, which will benefit the development of the Asia-Pacific region.

The seminar mainly focused on the current advancement of the initiative, which was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

"We are now working on six economic corridors, which will link China with other Belt and Road countries with highways, railways and pipelines," said Shen Bing, an official from the National Development and Reform Commission of China.

She also mentioned that China is working with countries such as Egypt and Malaysia in building and operating industrial parks, adding that all these kind of cooperation is not confined to the core 65 countries but also other countries in the world.

Some countries along the Belt and Road highly praised the initiative.

Russian Ambassador to Thailand Kirill Barsky said the initiative"brings us light of hope,"given the current state of global economy.

In another seminar hosted by Mongolia, Manlaibayar Yon, director of Department of Economic Cooperation of the Mongolian foreign ministry, expected the initiative to boost the sluggish economy since its sharp deceleration last year.

The two seminars are held in Bangkok from May 15 to 19 during the 72nd session of ESCAP. The session drew delegates from around Asia and Pacific region to deliberate on issues of sustainable development and regional economic integration. Enditem