Participants at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing have spotlighted interconnected infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, highlighting China's leadership in sustainable development among developing nations.
Under the theme "Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Prosperity," the gathering, which runs from Tuesday till Thursday, has drawn attention to China's leadership in sustainable development and renewable energy innovation.
Attendees expressed hopes for strengthened global cooperation to advance shared goals of sustainability and prosperity.
"I [came to] China 15 years ago actually, and when I came back I was really impressed by the evolution, both from the infrastructure of the roads, etc, but also the digitalization," said Adama Mariko, Deputy Director for Mobilization, Partnerships and Communication of AFD Group.
Experts highlighted China's remarkable progress in renewable energy, particularly in solar, wind, and hydropower, noting how these advancements offer critical lessons for global infrastructure initiatives.
"I think specifically on the topic of sustainable infrastructure, China has become now certainly a world leader in relation to the development of renewable energy. And a lot of the infrastructure development that we've seen here within China and indeed in many other countries, through the work of Chinese enterprises and organizations, whether multilateral organizations like AIIB that have supported it or indeed private companies. We have seen that sustainable infrastructure has been a key focus. And I think that's something that certainly for the world is a positive development," said Ameer Ibrahim, chief sustainable investments officer of Hamershlag Private.
Participants also lauded China's advancements in green finance, including green bonds, green credit, and carbon trading, stressing their pivotal role in global climate action and carbon neutrality efforts.
"China's domestic capital market, I would say, has always been a leader in green. So if you look at the green principles, the green taxonomy, the work of the regulators. So you see a real sustainable, green aspect to the capital markets here," said Andrew Cross, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
AIIB annual meeting in Beijing highlights China’s leadership in sustainable development, green finance
