The upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is a major world event that will send a strong message to the international community that "globalization is irreversible", Wu Hongbo, the UN undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, said on Wednesday.

"Although globalization has some problems and has room for improvement, the trend continues," said Wu, of China, who will attend the forum in Beijing this month as a member of the delegation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The forum also will "set a direction" of cooperation and mutual benefit for the international community, Wu said in an interview with Chinese media. "Cooperation and mutual benefit can make up for and improve the issues brought by globalization."