2016年CRI AIIB Opens in Beijing

 

When addressing at the opening ceremony of the AIIB, Chinese President Xi Jinping says the bank will effectively boost investment in infrastructure¹ and economic integration² in Asia.

"The official establishment and opening of AIIB will effectively boost investment channels in Asia, especially capitals from private sectors³ in infrastructure projects. AIIB will promote regional inter-connection and inter-communication and will improve economic integration. AIIB will also bring about a better investment environment for developing countries in Asia."

The president also promised another 50 million U.S. dollars of investment into the bank at the ceremony.

Also at the ceremony, Jin Liqun was elected the first AIIB president.

"AIIB is off to a good start. We will do our utmost to promote broad-based economic and social development through infrastructure investment in the banks of member countries. We'll do our best to protect the environment and take care of the people in the project areas."

Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei was elected as the first Chairman of the AIIB council, and promised the bank will work with other multilateral development banks such as the Asian Development Bank.

The opening ceremony has drawn⁴ many state financial heads, diplomats⁵ and regional heads of financial institutions.

A number of them from the European countries believe the AIIB will connect Asia and Europe in development.

Among them is Ron Keller, Dutch ambassador to China.

"We want to contribute to the continued success of the Asian region by building further infrastructure within the region, and also benefit from the region of the European and Asian cooperation. The Netherlands is very closely connected to many Asian countries."

Meanwhile, experts say that the AIIB's focus on infrastructure projects will also enhance connectivity among Asian countries.

Yukon Huang is Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington D.C.

"I think the creation of AIIB is now going to start to help integrate central Asia, south Asian, the Middle East, and east Asia. Therefore, the success of China, the success of east Asia region, hopefully will uplift other regions which have actually in the past not been so connected to the global economy. So I think this is the strength of AIIB."

The AIIB was first proposed by China in 2013.

With its focus on infrastructure development in Asia, the bank attracted 57 member countries within just two years.

It was formally established on December 25 of last year and is headquartered in Beijing.

The bank has an initial capital of 100 billion dollars.

China, India and Russia are the three largest shareholders⁶, taking a 30 percent, 9 percent and 7 percent stake respectively.

For CRI, this is Fei Fei.

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

3 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

5 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任