Efforts urged to implement Belt and Road Initiative

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a new resolution to extend the mandate of the UN assistance operation in Afghanistan, which also urged more efforts to strengthen regional economic cooperation through initiatives such as the Belt and Road.

The 15-member council extended the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year until March 17, 2018, in a move to emphasize its role in supporting an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

According to the Resolution 2344, the council urges further efforts to strengthen the process of regional economic cooperation, including measures to facilitate regional connectivity, trade and transit. These include regional development initiatives such as the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (the Belt and Road) Initiative and regional development projects.

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013 and has received support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, with more than 40 signing cooperation agreements with China.

The resolution urged all parties to provide a safe environment for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, step up efforts to develop policy connectivity and promote pragmatic cooperation.

The resolution said that all parties should further regional cooperation in the win-win spirit to promote safety, stability and development in Afghanistan and the region, and build a community of shared destiny.

President Xi Jinping elaborated the concept of building a community of common destiny during his speech at the UN Office in Geneva in January.