Essam Sharaf, former Egyptian Prime Minister, speaks during an interview in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 30, 2018. The principles of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are almost identical to those of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they both seek to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, Sharaf told Xinhua in a recent interview. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)