A Decade of AIIB: Advancing multilateral connectivity for a sustainable future

(ECNS) — The 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), themed "Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Prosperity," was held in Beijing, featuring topics including cross-border connectivity, regional cooperation, green finance, private capital mobilization, and digital partnership building.

As a multilateral development bank established in the 21st century, AIIB has grown from 57 founding members in 2015 to 110 members today. Over the past decade, it has approved financing over 60 billion U.S. dollars for 322 projects, leveraging more than 200 billion U.S. dollars in infrastructure investment.

Joint efforts to promote green and connected growth

At a forum held during the Annual Meeting, Hua Zhong, a senior official at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), remarked on the fruitful partnership between China and AIIB.

Since 2019, the NDRC and AIIB have launched sovereign loan cooperation, covering 20 projects with a total loan amount of 6 billion U.S. dollars, with a focus on green development, digital infrastructure, and regional connectivity.

“The green development approaches and digital solutions fostered through this collaboration are offering useful experience that other AIIB members may choose to draw from,” said Hua.

A more connected and inclusive world – Singapore’s vision for multilateralism

"Around the world, there is a need for infrastructure, for development. There's also a need for all countries to play a part in this," said Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Singapore Prime Minister's Office, in an interview during the Annual Meeting.

As an AIIB member, Singapore actively engages with AIIB to explore innovative pathways for infrastructure development. Rajah said, “We also collaborate with institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.”

“What we all want is a world where there is progress and improvement. For all people—that should be our greater goal,” she noted.

“They have the experience and resources, and they are able to help reduce project risk." Rajah emphasized the unique role multilateral development banks play: “They assist with project structuring and bring institutional support and knowledge sharing, which are vital for sustainable development.”

AIIB: Building trust through connectivity and partnership

Over the past decade, AIIB has been a key member of the multilateral development bank community. According to Jeffrey Hiday, director general of AIIB’s Communications Department, connectivity and regional cooperation have always been one of the thematic priorities of the AIIB’s corporate strategy.

Rodrigo Salvado, director general of AIIB’s Operational Partnership Department, noted that AIIB has fostered partnerships with more than 60 institutions globally.

“Multilateralism is the foundation of our partnerships,” Salvado underscored.“It means uniting people and institutions from diverse backgrounds, capabilities, and nationalities in pursuit of the common good.”

A new starting point: Bridging the world with infrastructure for tomorrow

AIIB’s headquarters in Beijing, designed with elements inspired by the Chinese knot and the Lu Ban lock, symbolizes the fusion of modern design and traditional Chinese culture.

This symbolism aligns with the Bank’s forward-looking vision. Through its "Infrastructure for Tomorrow" strategy, AIIB is advancing investments in green, technology-enabled, and connected infrastructure to meet the needs of a sustainable future.

The 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was held in Beijing, June 26, 2025. (Photo: China News Network/ Huang Fang)

(By Huang Fang, Zhao Li)