STORY: BRI more than economic infrastructure: former UNESCO chief 
DATELINE: Sept. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:46
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China-related footage
2. SOUNDBITE (English): IRINA BOKOVA, Former Director-General of UNESCO

STORYLINE:

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Irina Bokova, the former Director-General of UNESCO, said that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is much more than economic infrastructure.

SOUNDBITE (English): IRINA BOKOVA, Former Director-General of UNESCO
"The idea behind the Belt and Road is of course about commerce, it's about infrastructure, it's about economic development, but it is also very closely linked with the exchanges in education, in science globally, in culture among people.
Now, if I look at all these experiences in these 10 years, of course there is so much economic activity, so much agreement between countries, there are fast trains and bridges and airports being built and ports. All these are so important drivers of economic development.
But not least, I really want to put emphasis here that it is indeed about people-to-people contact, it is about mutual understanding, it is about the exchanges among universities, among scientists, intellectuals, young people. And I think this is very important in here and part of this Belt and Road Initiative. So whoever says it's just economic infrastructure. I don't agree, I think it's much more than that. This is where I believe the long-term impact of it in terms of us living together will stay."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)