Amina Mohammed, United Nations deputy secretary-general, looks at photos during a photo exhibition on China's Belt and Road Initiative at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, on May 8, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Countries involved in the initiative have their own resource advantages and their economies are mutually complementary. This provides great potential for cooperation, he said.

Liu said that three years after its launch, the initiative has received widespread recognition across the world and reaped important early harvests: More than 100 countries and international organizations have expressed their support, and more than 40 of them have concluded cooperation agreements with China.

"This concerted effort has registered steady progress; the economic corridor development is making headway; trade and investment are growing substantially; key joint projects are well underway," Liu said.

It also strongly reinforces the mission of the United Nations.

"Everybody is extremely excited because it is a demonstration of the global partnership that really fits the ambition of the 2030 Agenda (for Sustainable Development)," said Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the UN.