AIIB will have 100 countries as members by year-end: Jin Liqun

Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, speaks at the annual board meeting of the Asia News Network held at China Daily in Beijing, May 31, 2016. [Feng Yongbin / chinadaily.com.cn]

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will grow its membership to nearly 100 countries and regions by the end of the year, making it a truly international financial institution with the mission of promoting multilateral benefits for all members, AIIB President Jin Liqun said on Tuesday.

Up to 30 countries are waiting to join the AIIB and about 20 of them have expressed "firm commitment", Jin said.

The AIIB chief was speaking to about 30 editors from major Asian media outlets gathered in Beijing for the annual board meeting of the Asia News Network held at China Daily.

Jin's comments also came ahead of the bank's first annual meeting to be held on June 25 and 26 in Beijing. Governors and representatives from the bank's 57 founding members will attend the meeting.

Jin said the bank will soon deliver the first batch of infrastructure projects, which will all be carried out in the Asian member countries. It will also expand its funding for projects in non-Asian countries soon, in particular the countries with strong economic ties with Asia, he added.

"It is gratifying to see that geographically it covers a broad area," Jin said, noting that the bank will announce the second and third batches of the projects by the end of the year.

The AIIB has been recruiting top talents globally for its operation since it officially opened in January. Jin said the bank will soon appoint a Japanese national to serve a senior position at the bank.

Jin stressed the inclusive nature of the bank, saying that the bank should be a platform for cooperation and coordination for all players in international economic arena instead of being simply a financial instrument for infrastructure projects.