China inks agreements with 14 int’l organizations on B&R cooperation

2017-05-16
Xinhua

BEIJING — China has signed cooperation agreements with 14 international organizations on aid programs proposed at the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the country’s Ministry of Commerce said on May 16.

Yu Jianhua, vice minister of commerce, met with the heads of international organizations, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on May 15 and signed agreements with them on behalf of the Chinese government.

China announced at the May 14-15 forum that it will provide assistance worth 60 billion yuan ($8.7 billion) in the coming three years to developing countries and international organizations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to improve people’s well-being.

China will also provide emergency food aid worth 2 billion yuan to developing countries along the Belt and Road and make an additional contribution of $1 billion to the Assistance Fund for South-South Cooperation.

Yu stressed that cooperation with international organizations to assist other developing nations is a priority of China’s foreign aid and part of its efforts for South-South cooperation.

The Belt and Road Initiative is highly aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the new agreements will help Belt and Road countries realize the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, said Yu.

Heads of the 14 international organizations praised the Belt and Road forum’s success and China’s support for multilateralism and globalization.

They expressed willingness to enhance cooperation with China to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative and realize the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.