Shamshad Akhtar, an undersecretary-general of the United Nations and executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific / CHINA DAILY

The Belt and Road Initiative will generate mutual benefits for China and its partners. However, the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits vary across borders, depending on the terrain, stage of development, production capacities and traffic flows.

With nearly two-thirds of Belt and Road countries facing energy deficits, the initiative needs to complement and supplement subregional energy connectivity initiatives. There is huge scope to develop power grids; promote smart, green and integrated power and gas markets; and extend cross-border gas and oil pipelines from resource-rich Central Asia to South and East Asia. Drawing on the initiatives of China's State Grid and the Global Energy Interconnection Development Cooperation Organization to promote global energy interconnections will help to enhance the region's energy security and improve access to sustainable energy.