BEIJING, May 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of China represented by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) have strengthened ties for cooperation on sustainable development with the signing of an Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The signing took place during the first official Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation organized by the Chinese Government on 14-15 May, in Beijing.
The Action Plan is a follow up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on BRI signed last September at the margins of the 71st UN General Assembly. Building on the progress made so far, the action plan features key areas in which the cooperation can be taken forward to drive development results. Specifically, the objectives of the Action Plan will be focused on:
UNDP hopes that the signing of the 'Action Plan' represents a long-term commitment to ensure the initiative drives impactful sustainable development progress. As UNDP Administrator a.i., Tegegnework Gettu stressed "UNDP strongly believes that the BRI can maximize its positive impact by closely aligning its objectives and outcomes with the implementation of the SDGs. The BRI can act as an accelerator for the SDGs, creating global public benefits and realising clear development objectives. UNDP commends the Government of China for enacting this initiative, and acknowledges the role of China in leading by example and reaffirms its desire to support China in its efforts."
At the forum, UNDP also launched the 2017 Global Governance report looking at the potential for aligning BRI strategies and policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report entitled `The Belt and Road Initiative - A new means to transformative global governance towards sustainable development', was launched alongside their national counterpart, the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE).
"The report stresses the importance of making inclusiveness the core of the Belt and Road Initiative, and aligning the BRI with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Aligning the priorities of the countries with the SDGs can serve as the practical basis for transformative governance" highlighted Zhang Xiaoqiang, CCIEE Vice Chairman.
The report explores the implications of the BRI for the sustainable development of partner countries and synergies with the existing global governance system. Providing suggestions for further action, it features China`s role as a bridge builder and highlights the BRI's potential as a game changer in global economic governance towards sustainable development.
One of the main findings concludes that the BRI has the potential to be a key driver of economic dynamism and rising prosperity across its regions, however this will largely depend on strategic management from within, by linking the home and host contexts. Entry points for partner countries to engage in the BRI should draw on countries' national SDGs implementation plans. This can enhance the transformative nature of the BRI and reflect each BRI country's ownership and leadership throughout the process, thereby building trust and confidence among states. This implies that the BRI can not only contribute to basic infrastructure, regional development, connectivity and industrialization, but can trigger sustainable transformation of the countries along the Belt and Road with poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and inclusive social development at its core.
To download the report please visit:
www.cn.undp.org/content/china/en/home/publications
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