AIIB head fields questions from news executives

Jin Liqun (second from left), president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Zhou Li (fourth from left), editorial board member of China Daily, attend the Belt and Road Initiative and Regional Cooperation seminar with other Asian media representatives in Beijing on Tuesday. [Feng Yongbin/China Daily]

Editor's note: Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, was interviewed by media executives from the Asia News Network at the news organization's board meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhou Li, editorial board member of China Daily

How fast will the AIIB expand its membership?

We have 57 founding members. We have about 30 countries waiting to join, of which we have a firm commitment from about 20 countries. Some of the countries are still working on the internal procedure and can't give us a firm commitment at the moment. The deadline for application is the end of September, and we will try to complete the whole process of membership before the end of this year. So likely, by the end of this year, our membership will be a little less than 100. This is going to be a really international organization with countries from Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, North Africa and some other regions. So we will be able to work with so many countries across the world. AIIB certainly promotes, first of all, the benefits of Asian countries, but we don't forget about those that are, by definition, not Asian countries. We support other countries that have a direct and indirect impact on Asia's development.