UN official: Initiative brings more than just economic gains

The Belt and Road Initiative may do more than serve to promote commerce and common prosperity.

Miguel Angel Moratinos, high representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, or UNAOC, believes the BRI will bring together different civilizations, cultures and peoples in order to embrace humanity.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is a very ambitious initiative with great economic, diplomatic and cultural benefits," he said, but, "it is important to note that the scope of the initiative goes beyond economic benefits".

In its essence, the BRI promotes mutual understanding among countries involved in the Belt and Road program, Moratinos told China Daily before he left New York for Beijing to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. "In doing so, (the BRI) advances multiculturalism and promotes diversity against the backdrop of criticism of multiculturalism," he said.

The goals of the UNAOC and the BRI - particularly in terms of people-to-people exchanges - are aligned with each other, he added.

Since its establishment, the UNAOC has served as a soft-power political tool promoting the shared values, trends and beliefs of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, supporting the UN secretary-general's agenda on conflict prevention and resolution.

A career diplomat from Spain, Moratinos was appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as his high representative for the Alliance of Civilizations in January.

The UNAOC places special emphasis on intercultural and interreligious dialogue in promoting understanding and respect between identity-based groups, all with a view toward preventing conflict and promoting social cohesion.

Moratinos said that China, as a member of the UNAOC, "always strives to develop its diplomatic relations and economic and cultural exchanges with other countries in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"China's role has always been and will continue to be instrumental within the UN system," he added.

As one of the first member states to join the group of friends of the UNAOC, China has had many cultural exchanges with the UNAOC, Moratinos said.

He mentioned the Chinese Action Plan released in 2015, which says that the BRI extends beyond building infrastructure, and connectivity between people is one of the main goals, which means "promoting cultural, academic and diplomatic connectivity", Moratinos said.

Since beginning of his tenure, Moratinos has set as a priority expanding the scope and scale of UNAOC partnerships, particularly with China.

He cited a memorandum of understanding that was signed by his predecessor, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017.

"We would like to translate this MOU into action," he said. "I have already proposed an exchange program called 'The Silk Road Ambassadors' in order to enhance people-to-people exchange. The idea is to get people to know each other's cultures within the Silk Road countries," he said.

Moratinos said it is expected that the BRI will improve connectivity across Eurasia and connect the neighboring states of Central Asia, as well as the Middle East and Europe.