More than 3,500 delegates from nearly 100 countries and regions attended the 10th annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing, where the bank released its first partnership report.

This photo taken on June 26, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 10th Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Governors in Beijing, capital of China. (Photo: Xinhua)

Initiated by China, AIIB is a new type of multilateral development institution featuring broad participation by both developing and developed countries.

When AIIB was launched, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a professional, efficient and transparent multilateral development bank.

With its establishment on December 25, 2015 and official launch on January 16, 2016, the bank is now approaching its 10th anniversary.

Within a decade, AIIB has grown from 57 founding members to 110, covering 81 percent of the world's population and 65 percent of global GDP.

AIIB has approved over $60 billion in financing for 322 projects, leveraging more than $200 billion in infrastructure investment. It has consistently maintained triple-A credit ratings from Moody's, S&P and Fitch.

Over the last nine years, the bank has operated according to international rules and high standards, while pursuing a strategy centered on high-quality, sustainable development and strong international cooperation.

This approach has helped promote a new model of global financial governance and contributed to sustainable development through multilateral collaboration.

AIIB's success over the past decade offers at least three key lessons.

First, the bank's steadfast commitment to multilateralism has earned it credibility and appeal.

The bank has taken practical steps to uphold multilateralism, becoming a platform for inclusive cooperation and shared development.

Developing members hold about 70 percent of the bank's capital, while developed members hold the remaining 30 percent.

In AIIB decision-making, large and small shareholders, developing and developed countries, work together on the basis of consensus.

According to its newly released report, the bank co-financed 131 of its more than 300 projects with other multilateral development banks.

The bank's successful practices illustrate how countries at different development stages and with diverse cultural backgrounds can transcend differences, seek common ground and pursue mutual development.

It can be said that AIIB has set a valuable example for building an open world economy and improving the global governance system.

As former World Bank president Robert Zoellick has said, AIIB has set a standard for governance, transparency, international norms and cooperation.

Second, by combining financing with expertise, the bank has become a powerful force for global development.

In Egypt, the Alexandria Abu Qir metro line project has eased urban congestion, cut carbon emissions and improved transport for hundreds of thousands of people. 

In Indonesia, a $216 million loan has helped upgrade slum areas, benefiting nearly 9.7 million residents.

In Southwest China's Yunnan Province, the expansion of Kunming Changshui International Airport has facilitated the export of flowers and mushrooms to international markets.

Beyond financing, AIIB prioritizes knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Remaining project-driven and development-oriented, it helps members adopt advanced standards and management practices ‒ strengthening their ability to chart their own development paths and fostering mutual learning across models. This has contributed to regional and global growth.

As Sri Mulyani Indrawati, governor of the AIIB and Indonesian minister of finance, has said, "Over the past decade, AIIB has accumulated solid expertise and experience."

"It is not just a new bank ‒ it is a driver of global development."

Third, AIIB champions green, sustainable and inclusive growth, helping define the direction of future infrastructure investment.

Environmental and social impacts are considered at every stage of the project life cycle ‒ from selection and evaluation to implementation ‒ demonstrating the bank's commitment to sustainable development.

Its projects consistently prioritize energy conservation and emissions reduction, climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection and social inclusion, with support extended to clean energy, sustainable transport and resilient urban development.

The bank has maintained top-tier AAA credit ratings from major international rating agencies, reflecting not only its sound financial health and robust governance, but also the international community's high recognition of its unwavering commitment to high standards and sustainable development.

By investing in green infrastructure, the bank is helping to drive a transformation toward greener growth models and striving to achieve an integrated balance of economic, social and environmental benefits.

In doing so, it has set a benchmark for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and demonstrated the vital role that multilateral development banks can play in fostering global equity, inclusiveness and sustainability.

The headquarters of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing. (Photo via China Daily)

As a founding member, key shareholder, headquarters host country and development partner of AIIB, China has consistently supported the bank's development.

China has advocated for the bank to further help members build development capacity, broaden international dialogue and cooperation, and strengthen its role as a new type of multilateral platform. China will continue to offer its strong support and work alongside all parties to help build the bank into a new model of international multilateral cooperation, making even greater contributions to global infrastructure and shared development.

Looking ahead, AIIB is tasked with an even greater mission.

As the world grapples with widening development financing gaps, mounting climate challenges and inadequate and imbalanced development, the bank's role ‒ as a successful embodiment of multilateralism and "win-win" cooperation ‒ will become ever more prominent.

It is believed that with the backing of its members, AIIB will remain true to its founding aspirations, deepen its partnerships, innovate financing models and focus on priority areas of sustainable development.

In doing so, it will continue to enhance global connectivity, accelerate the green transition and help narrow the development divide.

The bank's commitment to multilateral cooperation ‒ and its spirit of openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit ‒ is particularly valuable in today's increasingly uncertain world.

As global economic and trade cooperation encounter new challenges, China's steady growth, expanding markets and accelerating innovation have become key stabilizing forces for multilateralism, global governance and international cooperation.

China is committed to supporting global development and will continue to reinforce its role as a key stabilizer amid today's global challenges.