Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP), and Dr. Mia Mikic, Director of the Trade, Investment, and Innovation Division of ESCAP, visited CDI and had discussions on joint research on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with CDI experts. Dr. Akhtar said that BRI, which will enhance integration in Asia-Pacific region, will facilitate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and that BRI need to address challenges of infrastructure connectivity, trade costs, sovereignty debts, labor skills etc. UNESCAP and CDI agree to promote cooperation on research related to trade, investment, transport, and innovation to ensure policy coordination in the implementation of BRI and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.