Unicef eyes cooperation with China through B&R Initiative

Beijing: UN Children`s Fund (Unicef) chief Anthony Lake on Monday praised the Belt and Road Initiative and said the organisation is happy to cooperate with China on it.

Calling it an "extraordinary strategic vision", Lake said the initiative offered many practical opportunities to change people`s lives, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Lake, while there is a focus on trade and infrastructure, he is also looking forward to the human development it can deliver.

"It is human beings that make development happen, and it`s human beings that benefit from development," Lake said.

The Unicef chief said the healthy growth of children was among the great accomplishments the initiative could make.

Lake said work needs to be done on children`s health and reducing child mortality. The key to future prosperity is educating children so they want to contribute to their societies and become good citizens.

The key priority for Unicef is to reduce inequality, and to cooperate with China on this issue, Lake said.

"Shifting educational resources and helping improve education of the poor is the best investment you can possibly make," he said.

Unlike China, children in some nations don`t have a childhood, so it is imperative for countries to work together and give these children a better chance to grow up, according to Lake.