Belt and Road Forum in China & other topics - Daily Briefing (26 April 2019)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Daily Press Briefing:
- Secretary-General's Travels
- Cyclone Kenneth
- Libya
- Syria
- Rohingya Refugees
- Venezuela Refugees
- Yemen
- Mali
- Security Council
- Venezuela
SG TRAVELS
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is in Beijing today, where he spoke earlier at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
In his remarks, he said that this is a time of uncertainty and unease, but that the choices we make now are essential to put us on a low-carbon growth path that is sustainable and inclusive and will build resilience.
The Secretary-General said that the world will benefit from a Belt and Road Initiative that accelerates efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and stressed that the world needs to take profit of the Initiative to help close the significant financing gaps for achieving the SDGs.
He said that United Nations country teams will work to support the Member States in capacity and governments building and in achieving harmonious and sustainable integration of Belt and Road projects in their own economies and societies in accordance with national development plans anchored in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
He said that he also sees the Initiative as an important space where green principles can be reflected in green action, adding that fully expanding our policy options for green and sustainable development and backed by green financing instruments must become the new norm.
In the Chinese capital, the Secretary-General also met with President Xi Jinping. He expressed his appreciation for China’s support for the UN’s work, including through its contributions to peacekeeping, South-South cooperation, UN reform and leadership on climate change. He also congratulated President Xi on the upcoming 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China this year, noting that 2019 marks 40 years of the UN’s presence in the country.
The Secretary-General and the President also discussed the Belt and Road Initiative’s potential to bolster development and reduce poverty in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Tomorrow, he will participate in Leaders’ Roundtable Sessions and will deliver the keynote speech at a session on the topic of promoting green and sustainable development to implement the 2030 Agenda.
On the sidelines of the Summit, of the Conference, the Secretary-General met with President Nyusi of Mozambique. The Secretary-General expressed his solidarity with the people and Government in the wake of Cyclone Idai and the more recent Cyclone Kenneth. The Secretary-General pledged the United Nations’ support for relief efforts.
CYCLONE KENNETH
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, said in a statement today that he is deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction caused by Cyclone Kenneth, which first hit the Comoros two days ago and made landfall last night in northern Mozambique.
The disaster comes six weeks after Cyclone Idai devastated central Mozambique, killing more than 600 people and causing widespread devastation. Cyclone Kenneth marks the first time two cyclones have made landfall in Mozambique during the same season.
Malawi and Zimbabwe are also expected to experience heavy rains and flooding caused by the weather system.
OCHA is helping to coordinate the Government-led response and manage information, while a joint World Food Programme (WFP) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) teams are pre-positioned in to support the response.
Emergency stocks have also been positioned in the Comoros; the UN is supporting Government-led assessments.
ROHINGYA REFUGEES
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) António Vitorino, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, today highlighted the urgent need to sustain the support for Rohingya refugees.
At the end of their visit to Bangladesh, the three officials called on the international community to continue supporting the critical needs of 1.2 million people, mostly Rohingya refugees but also the generous host communities, in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh.
During their visit, they went to see the refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar and met with various refugee groups. They also stressed the importance of expanding opportunities for these refugees to learn and get skills training, as most refugees have access to limited schooling or are missing out on education altogether.

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