Sanda Ojiambo (center), assistant secretary-general and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact at the launch event of the United Nations Global Compact held in Beijing on Monday Photo: Shen Weiduo/GT

The 10 years of development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents a decade of growing collaboration, sharing lessons learned and advancing a shared vision for the world, Sanda Ojiambo, assistant secretary-general and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, said on Monday evening at a launch event that the organization held in Beijing.

During the event, which was held as the BRI marked its 10th anniversary, the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, unveiled new guidance and assessment tools for companies to advance sustainable infrastructure under the BRI.

These guidance and assessment tools are aimed at more effectively supporting all market participants involved in Belt and Road cooperation in fulfilling corporate social responsibility, adhering to the United Nations Global Compact, uniting global businesses, and jointly shaping the next brilliant decade of the BRI, which also marks a significant contribution to advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, read a statement the organization sent to the Global Times on Monday.

"We're here today in the week that marks the 10th year of the Belt and Road Initiative. It's been a decade of growing collaboration, sharing lessons learned and advancing our shared aspirations," Ojiambo said.

This is also the first time the UN official came to visit China since she took office.

"The BRI, as we know, has created the opportunity and certainly has more potential to create a tapestry in interconnecting nations, growing economies, and higher aspirations for a brighter and more sustainable future," the official said.

"We anticipate that the third Belt and Road Forum will help us reaffirm our collective commitment to the principles, as I said, of sustainability, inclusiveness and shared prosperity. China and Chinese companies continue to show leadership in economic growth and development and the opportunity for more sustainable and inclusive development," Ojiambo said.

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held from October 17 to 18 in Beijing. The BRF this year will be held under the theme "High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity."