Belt and Road Initiative and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72^nd Session of the UN General Assembly, at High-Level Symposium on “Belt and Road Initiative and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning

We are three years into the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is our focus – as it should be.

Just two days ago, I held a meeting to brainstorm about how we can get more private investment channeled into SDG-related projects. After all, we need predictable and sustainable financing for the Goals and no one sector can do it alone.

The takeaway from that meeting was clear: We are simply not doing enough to finance the SDGs. This puts many of the goals at risk, from climate change to zero hunger. Speakers offered a range of practical solutions to the big financing gap in sustainable development. And, many voices stressed that partnerships were critical. The role of development banks in helping to de-risk investment and providing much-needed funding was also emphasized. And, I want to point out that he Belt and Road Initiative brings together both of these solutions, and more.

So, amidst the challenges, there are solutions that we need to celebrate and multiply. The Belt and Road Initiative is one of them. It is not just about financing projects in developing countries, providing improved transport routes and south-south cooperation. More than this, it represents a commitment to the SDGs, to climate action and to multilateralism.

Against this backdrop, please allow me to make three points.

My first point is well-known but still bears repeating: namely that urgent action is needed to achieve the Goals within our timeframe.

And for this we need both developed and developing countries, public and private sector and non-traditional funding. China is playing its part by taking this much-needed Initiative.

Indeed, many countries are already seeing an increase in trade, economic growth and transfer of technology.  These benefits, coupled with the right national policies, lead to the creation of decent jobs, poverty reduction and better infrastructure.

Which leads me to my second point – about the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative to bring about the kind of partnerships we need, for the SDGs.

The Sustainable Development Goals called on us to establish partnerships. From Montenegro to Kenya, the Belt and Road Initiative includes over 100 countries and international organizations.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank provides funding through its loans programme –which is another critical element for achieving our Goals. In just its first year it lent 1.73 billion US dollars to support sustainable infrastructure and other projects. This will no doubt help to close the 5 to 7 trillion-dollar gap we face in financing the SDGs.

This is not only China’s development strategy. Rather, it is global – rooted in cooperation, trade and geography.

My third point is about multilateral cooperation. We are in a time of super connectivity, globalization and, as I see it, we are in need of a multilateral renaissance.

And multilateralism is the cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative. It shows China’s commitment to its neighbors and to the principles of the United Nations.

And China’s commitment does not stop here. Other examples include climate action, in line with the Paris Agreement. Another is China’s donation of 200 million US dollars over 10 years to the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund. And there are many more.

Let me conclude by saying that China’s economic growth is not confined within its borders. As a multilateral player, China is sharing its wealth and best practices through the Belt and Road Initiative. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank China for translating the SDGs into action on the ground. I wish the Initiative continued success for everyone involved. And I look forward to further strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and China on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Thank you.