Chinese President to address 2020 AIIB Annual Meeting today

President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping will deliver the opening address of the fifth Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) today.

Other distinguished speakers at the opening ceremony include: AIIB President Jin Liqun; People’s Republic of China Minister of Finance and AIIB Chair of the Board of Governors Liu Kun; AIIB Vice Chair of the Board of Governors and Republic of the Union of Myanmar Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Soe Win; and AIIB Vice Chair of the Board of Governors and Republic of Iceland Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Bjarni Benediktsson.

This is the fifth Annual Meeting of AIIB since the bank began operations on 16 January 2016.  Founded by 57 members, AIIB has since grown to 102 members from around the world.  To date, AIIB’s President and Board of Directors have approved up to $ 19.6 billion for 87 projects in 24 economies.

Originally planned to be held in Beijing at the Bank’s new headquarters, this year’s Annual Meeting will be virtual so AIIB’s Governors and senior management can still engage with stakeholders from around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.The virtual Opening Ceremony and Annual Meeting webinars will drive discussion on the importance of partnerships to connect markets, build greener economies, close the digital divide and navigate the challenges ahead.

Webinar participants include: former Nigerian Finance Minister, former World Bank Managing Director and Member of the AIIB International Advisory Panel Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Sinovation Ventures Chairman and CEO Kai-Fu Lee; Keppel Asia Infrastructure Fund CEO Christina Tan; and London School of Economics IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government and member of the AIIB International Advisory Panel Nicholas Stern.

AIIB is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia. Headquartered in Beijing, we began operations in January 2016 and have now grown to 102 approved members worldwide. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors in Asia and beyond, we will better connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future.