th
Anniversary
5月31日，亚洲新闻联盟（Asia News Network, ANN）2016年年会“一带一路与区域合作”论坛在北京举行。亚洲基础设施投资银行（Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank，AIIB，简称亚投行）行长金立群、中国日报社社长朱灵等共同出席了本次论坛。
论坛举办期间，金立群作主旨演讲，并回答了ANN成员媒体代表们关于亚投行运营、一带一路、区域合作等方面的提问。
金立群在演讲中首先对迎来创办35周年纪念日的中国日报表达了祝贺。他表示，作为中国首份国家级英文日报，创办于改革开放初期的中国日报具有很大影响力。他回忆道，自己当年听闻《中国日报》发行的消息时曾非常兴奋，并还参与过部分专栏文章的撰写。
亚洲基础设施投资银行行长金立群（左）出席“一带一路与区域合作”座谈会。王壮飞/中国日报
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will earn international trust and credibility through its performance, the bank's President Jin Liqun said on Tuesday.
Jin dispelled mistrust and skepticism about China's motivation for creating the multilateral financial institution.
He said the bank will see its first group of infrastructure projects by the end of June and will raise the ceiling on its membership numbers from 57 to nearly 100 countries and regions this year.
While the United States and Japan have declined to join the AIIB, Jin said countries can work together regardless of whether they are members of the bank, which will soon appoint a Japanese national to serve in a senior position.
"The door has been open and will remain open," he said, adding that Japan and the US will be treated equally and fairly by the AIIB.
In a rare meeting, Jin sat down with a group of senior editors from major Asian news outlets to discuss the mission and operation of the China-led bank.
"The first batch of projects will speak volumes for the AIIB," Jin said, adding that the bank will unveil the second and third group of projects by the end of the year.
Jin's remarks came ahead of the bank's first annual meeting on June 25 and 26 in Beijing. Governors and representatives from its 57 founding members will attend.
图为亚洲基础设施投资银行行长金立群出席“一带一路与区域合作”座谈会。冯永斌/中国日报
In his discussions with the editors from the Asia News Network, Jin used a quote from English author Jane Austen to hit back at skepticism about China's motivation for creating the bank.
"Skepticism must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure," Jin said, replacing "selfishness" in the original quote, with "skepticism".
He shrugged off suspicion and misconceptions about the bank, saying it has no intention to challenge the international financial order or to pose a threat to other multilateral development banks.
The bank is working seamlessly with international institutions, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, to cofinance infrastructure projects, he said.
Jin said priority will be given initially to Asian member countries when it comes to funding infrastructure projects. But the bank will seek to expand its investment scope to non-Asian countries with strong economic ties to the continent and will look beyond the geographic boundaries of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
In addition to funding infrastructure projects, the bank will finance sectors including education, healthcare and urban planning and management, Jin said.
He also said the bank is not interested in taking a venture capital role by investing in new technology — underscoring the rational and cautious approach of the bank's investment philosophy.
会后亚洲基础设施投资银行行长金立群（左二）与出席2016亚洲新闻联盟年会的嘉宾交流并合影。冯永斌/中国日报
Jin said the projects being eyed by the bank must be financially sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.
John Nery, editor-in-chief of Inquirer.net, a Philippine media outlet, said Jin gave a clear presentation of the AIIB and addressed some of the most common misconceptions about the bank.
"I found him to be a very articulate and learned man. I think the AIIB is in very good hands," he said, adding that he looked forward to the announcement of the bank's first projects later this month.
Chen Mengwei contributed to this story.