UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing, May 14, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called on the international community to seize the opportunities presented by the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and strive for common development.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing, Guterres praised the ambitious cross-continental initiative as being "rooted in a shared vision for broad development."

Quoting a famous Chinese saying that guided China's fast development: "Building the road is the first step towards prosperity," the UN chief urged the world to draw experiences from the ancient Silk Road and "take that spirit to new heights for the benefit of all."

Guterres also highlighted China's growing role in promoting global initiatives such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and in increasing support for UN peacekeeping and new funds designed to foster growth, stability and prosperity.

The UN chief called China a "central pillar of multilateralism," and said he believes that with the UN and the world's support for the Belt and Road Initiative, developing countries will achieve faster growth and better meet the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.