STORY: BRI contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals: UN official
DATELINE: Oct. 17, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:48
LOCATION: Vienna
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of construction sites
2. various of UN in Vienna
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GHADA WALY, UNODC Executive Director
4. various of UNODC
5. various of railways
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): GHADA WALY, UNODC Executive Director
7. various of ports
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GHADA WALY, UNODC Executive Director

STORYLINE:

A United Nations (UN) official has said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can help accelerate efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ghada Waly, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua in Vienna before flying to Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF).

It is her first trip to China since she took the helm at UNODC in February 2020.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GHADA WALY, UNODC Executive Director
"My expectations are that there will be many opportunities to exchange best practices to learn more about the Belt and Road Initiative, to also explain to the participants and the attendees the kind of work that we do under the UN Convention against Corruption."

Waly noted that the BRI, with its focus on connectivity, poverty reduction and job creation, has been contributing to a number of the UN SDGs.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): GHADA WALY, UNODC Executive Director
"It has been successful in creating jobs in a number of countries, and it is contributing to reducing poverty levels."

The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investment could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GHADA WALY, UNODC Executive Director
"This is a large number, and the Chinese experience in helping people get out of poverty and in industrialization has a lot to offer to other countries to learn from. I think the only way forward is for the world to work together, to increase international cooperation, and to increase dialogue among countries."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Vienna.
(XHTV)