Brunei Darussalam believes that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) can promote greater cooperation in mitigating climate change by integrating disaster risk reduction into regional infrastructure, investing in early warning systems, promoting nature-based solutions and developing innovative financing for adaptation.

Brunei Darussalam also encouraged AIIB to facilitate enhanced access for smaller countries through strategic partnerships.

Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah highlighted this during the roundtable session at the 10th Annual Meeting of the AIIB Board of Governors from June 24 to 26 in Beijing, China.

The roundtable session provided a platform for governors to offer guidance on the future direction of the AIIB – including efforts to foster development and infrastructure connectivity.

Under the theme ‘Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Prosperity’, this year’s annual meeting allowed members to reflect the AIIB’s achievements during its first decade of operations since its establishment in 2016.

Premier of China Li Qiang in a keynote address at the opening ceremony, highlighted AIIB’s growth and substantial investment in projects across its member countries.

Li Qiang also outlined three aspirations for the AIIB’s future: providing stronger support to enhance members’ development capabilities through high-quality, low-cost financing; upholding open regionalism and advancing connectivity through synergy with the Belt and Road Initiative; and leveraging the AIIB’s role as a new type of multilateral platform.

Meanwhile, AIIB President Jin Liqun reflected on the bank’s achievements over the past 10 years, its initiatives and policy directions in spurring regional infrastructure development and mitigating impacts of global challenges. He also emphasised the importance of cross-border connectivity, green financing, private capital mobilisation, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships. During the meeting, Zou Jiayi was elected as the next AIIB president, set to replace founding President Jin Liqun when his term ends in January 2026.

Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew also held discussions with Jin Liqun, exploring opportunities to strengthen collaboration between Brunei Darussalam and the AIIB across various areas of mutual interest.

As a multilateral development bank, the AIIB aims to improve economic and social outcomes in Asia through infrastructure investment, with a focus on projects in sectors such as transport, energy, water and communications.

AIIB meetings are held annually and bring together Governors from 110 member countries, including Brunei Darussalam. The minister also held several bilateral meetings with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister of National Development of Singapore Indranee Rajah; Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Committee of China Zhou Haibing; and Vice Minister at the Ministry of Commerce of China Yan Dong.

Discussions during the two meetings focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, as well as Brunei Darussalam and China, in various areas of mutual interest.

The 11th AIIB Annual Meeting will be held in September 2026 in Doha, Qatar. – James Kon

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin