Photo taken on April 13, 2017 shows Nicholas Rosellini is learning history of the Xinhua News Agency. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior United Nations (UN) official has hailed China's achievements in poverty reduction, saying the Belt and Road Initiative can help the world alleviate poverty.

The United Nations is paying great attention to and is willing to take an active part in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing next month, said Nicholas Rosellini, UN resident coordinator and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) resident representative in China.

Photo taken on April 13, 2017 shows Nicholas Rosellini is visiting the editing room of the Xinhua News Agency. (Xinhua)

The UNDP praised the continuous efforts and achievements made by China in reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development, Rosellini said during a visit to the Xinhua headquarters in Beijing Thursday.

He also said that the UN institutions, including the UNDP, are willing to strengthen cooperation with Xinhua, the largest and most influential media outlet in China.