Program
The 2020 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) Annual Meeting, on July 28 and 29, 2020, brought together AIIB’s Governors and Senior Management in a virtual session to connect stakeholders and experts to discuss how to build a more inclusive and resilient tomorrow.
The various sessions drove discussions on the importance of partnerships to connect markets, build greener economies, close the digital divide and navigate the challenges ahead.
Opening Ceremony
5-5:30 p.m. (GMT+8)
The 2020 AIIB Annual Meeting Opening Ceremony will be livestreamed here. The agenda is as follows:
5-5:30 p.m. (GMT+8)
The 2020 AIIB Annual Meeting Opening Ceremony will be livestreamed here. The agenda is as follows:
- H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.
- Remarks by Mr. Jin Liqun, President, AIIB.
- Remarks by U Soe Win, Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, AIIB & Union Minister for Planning and Finance, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
- Remarks by Hon. Bjarni Benediktsson, Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, AIIB & Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Republic of Iceland.
- Welcome Address by H.E. Liu Kun, Chair of the Board of Governors, AIIB & Minister of Finance, People’s Republic of China.
- Master of Ceremonies: Sir Danny Alexander, Secretary of the Board of Governors & Vice President, Corporate Secretary, AIIB.
Date: July 28, 2020 6-6:45 p.m. (GMT+8)
Session One: Closing the Digital Divide: Infrastructure and Technologies
Digital technology is transforming the global economy by creating new opportunities and changing the way we work. Digital infrastructure is the new virtual roads and railways underpinning the modern economy. Nevertheless, it is estimated that close to half of the world’s population remains unconnected to the internet, with the majority living in low-income and emerging economies. The divide also exists across business sectors, where the infrastructure sector has lagged behind in benefitting from the productivity gains that digital technology brings.
This webinar will discuss the importance of digital infrastructure and closing the digital divide between regions, demographics, and sectors. It will start with a discussion on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) approach to investing in digital infrastructure, in light of its newly approved Digital Infrastructure Sector Strategy, and how it hopes to close digital divides and foster the uses of digital technologies in all infrastructure sectors. A panel of leading experts from across the world will share their views on the key characteristics of the digital divide—access, affordability, awareness, and ability—and the most influential and ready applications that can digitalize infrastructure and make it more efficient and resilient. The webinar will also share suggestions, concrete steps and initiatives that multilateral financial institutions such as AIIB can promote to improve digital infrastructure.
Confirmed Speakers:
Part One:
- Konstantin Limitovskiy, Vice President, Investment Operations (Region 2), AIIB.
- Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, Author.
Part Two:
- Daniel Ahn, Founder and Partner, Clearvision.
- Manuel Etter, Vice President, Loon.
Date: July 28, 2020 7:15-8:00 p.m. (GMT+8)
Session Two: Private Equity for Emerging Markets Infrastructure During Crisis
The Asian private equity industry is a fast-moving sector where numerous innovative financing structures evolve in response to market needs. Like other sectors of the economy, private equity players have been affected by COVID-19, and have had to take on numerous adaptations and risk management measures to support economic recovery.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which has been actively developing its own private equity portfolio since 2018-2019, continues to engage the private equity industry to help it face the unique challenges of, and seize the new opportunities available in, the current financial environment.
This webinar will discuss AIIB’s vision on private equity and the promotion of private equity investments in infrastructure. Joined by AIIB representatives and other leading experts, this session will look at the participation of multilateral financial institutions in private equity funds and how these funds can be a vehicle to catalyze private capital into infrastructure investments in emerging markets. In addition, experts will discuss opportunities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as growing interest from institutional investors in Asian private equity.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Dongik Lee, Director General, Investment Operations (Region 1), AIIB (Moderator).
- Jin-Yong Cai, Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
- Josh Lerner, Professor, Harvard Business School.
- Christina Tan, CEO, Keppel Capital.
Date: July 29, 2020 4:45-5:30 p.m. (GMT+8)
Session Three: AIIB—the Establishment of a 21st Century Development Bank
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) began operations in January 2016 with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes by investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors in Asia.
The architects and negotiators of AIIB drew on the accumulated experience of existing financial institutions to design a new kind of multilateral development bank. The management adopted recognizable financial products, best practices and operational models that have laid the foundations of multilateralism. In addition, AIIB negotiators focused on establishing an institution responsive to a new multilateralism and sealed Articles of Agreement that aim to institutionalize best practices and introduce innovative approaches.
On the occasion of AIIB’s fifth Annual Meeting, this event will bring together key figures in the negotiation process that led to the establishment of the Bank. Panelists will discuss the key aspects of AIIB governance that contributed to its success and the innovative features that make AIIB a modern and unique institution.
- Gerard Sanders, General Counsel, AIIB.
- Shi Yaobin, Chairman of the Budgetary Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Vice Chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the National People's Congress, People’s Republic of China, Chair of the Chief Negotiators' Meetings on Establishing the AIIB.
- Natalie Lichtenstein, Chief Counsel for the Chief Negotiators Meeting on Establishing AIIB, AIIB Inaugural General Counsel, now Visiting Scholar, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
- Chris Legg, Chief Negotiator for Australia, Former Dean and Member of the AIIB Board of Directors (Moderator).
Date: July 29, 6-7:00 p.m. (GMT+8)
Session Four: The Future of Regional Connectivity
Regional connectivity is central to Asia’s economic development, yet improving connectivity is an area that suffers from vast underinvestment.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created major economic and social disruption, compounding existing challenges to infrastructure investments, and encouraging people to consider not only the strengths, but also the weaknesses of the globalized economic system. While the economic forces of efficiency, economies of scale and comparative advantage that drove globalization and cross-border connectivity will remain, the pandemic is a unique opportunity to assess and re-envision the regional connectivity agenda.
At a time when many clients struggle to respond to the crisis, safeguarding the implementation of ongoing and new growth-enhancing programs is essential for a fast and sustainable recovery. With its mandate to fostering infrastructure financing, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) can play a catalytic role in addressing both short- and long-term impacts and create opportunities for innovation.
This webinar will discuss how countries can get the most from regional connectivity projects and make them work in a post-COVID-19 era. It will also explore how economies can help to reconcile current needs with opportunities for innovation and adaptation created by the crisis.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Joachim von Amsberg, Vice President, Policy and Strategy, AIIB.
- Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
- Haslinda Amin, Chief International Correspondent for Southeast Asia and anchor for Bloomberg Television (Moderator).
- Raj Jit Singh Wallia, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Group Finance, DP World.
Date: July 29, 7:30-8:30 p.m. (GMT+8)
Session Five: Investing in Climate Action
Strategic climate investments can both stimulate economies and build climate resilience. Globally, corporations are becoming increasingly aware of the need to mitigate climate change risks. As a result, they are progressively signing long-term, large-scale contracts that leverage incentives and local financing into climate finance. Governments are catalyzing private investment in climate resilience by providing incentives, funding innovation and supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has made substantive efforts to include climate change priorities in its decision-making processes across its operations. Among its initiatives are the Asia Environmental, Social and Governance Enhanced Credit Managed Portfolio, and the Asia Climate Bond Portfolio in partnership with Amundi, the largest asset management company in Europe.
In this webinar, Sir Danny Alexander, AIIB Vice President and Corporate Secretary, together with AIIB Governors, prominent climate action expert Lord Nicholas Stern, and Amundi CEO Yves Perrier, will discuss the concrete steps undertaken by different actors to support the involvement of private capital in climate action and the opportunities ahead.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Danny Alexander, Vice President and Corporate Secretary AIIB (Moderator).
- Zou Jiayi, AIIB Alternate Governor, Vice Minister of Finance, People’s Republic of China.
- Yves Perrier, CEO, Amundi.
- Nicholas Stern, IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government at the London School of Economics, and member of the AIIB International Advisory Panel.
- Stefen Shin, Principal Investment Officer, AIIB.
Date: July 29, 9-9:45 p.m. (GMT+8)
Session Six: In Conversation with AIIB President Jin Liqun
COVID-19 has affected almost every country in the world; however, the degree to which they have been affected has differed profoundly. Factors such as the available fiscal space and the maturity of the local healthcare sector have resulted in vastly different responses from governments to the crisis.
Multilateral development banks are playing a crucial role by assisting their members mitigate economic pressures, and forging partnerships to expand the portfolio of financing tools to support crisis recovery. The prompt response to the crisis would not have been possible without the existing international cooperation frameworks and working mechanisms that serve both short- and long-term global needs.
In this live webinar, we will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of multilateral development organizations as vehicles to respond to urgent global crisis. The conversation will also touch upon the importance of establishing cooperation frameworks to tackle long-term challenges in the next decades. Fulfilling the targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals would not be possible without a coordinated effort that includes emerging donors and the diversification of existing financing tools and cooperation mechanisms.
Confirmed Speakers:
Multilateral development banks are playing a crucial role by assisting their members mitigate economic pressures, and forging partnerships to expand the portfolio of financing tools to support crisis recovery. The prompt response to the crisis would not have been possible without the existing international cooperation frameworks and working mechanisms that serve both short- and long-term global needs.
In this live webinar, we will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of multilateral development organizations as vehicles to respond to urgent global crisis. The conversation will also touch upon the importance of establishing cooperation frameworks to tackle long-term challenges in the next decades. Fulfilling the targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals would not be possible without a coordinated effort that includes emerging donors and the diversification of existing financing tools and cooperation mechanisms.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Jin Liqun, President, AIIB.
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Former Finance Minister, Nigeria; Former Managing Director, World Bank; and Member of the AIIB International Advisory Panel.
- Laurel Ostfield, Director General, Communications, AIIB (Moderator).
