The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has struck an agreement to undertake joint projects with the World Bank as the China-led institution attempts to counter the perception that it is a rival to longer established multinational institutions.
亚洲基础设施投资银行(Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,简称亚投行)达成了一份协议,与世界银行(WB)联合开展项目。这家中国领导下的机构试图借此反驳认为该行是其他跨国金融机构竞争对手的观点,这些机构成立的时间比亚投行更长。
Jin Liqun, president of the AIIB, told an audience in Washington that he expected the first projects to be approved in June, saying that it was sensible given the risk and scale of infrastructure projects to partner with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, as well as pursuing solo ventures.
亚投行行长金立群在华盛顿向听众表示,他预计首批项目将在今年6月获批,并表示考虑到基建项目的风险和规模,除了开展独资项目,与世行和亚洲开发银行(Asian Development Bank,简称亚开行)合作也是合理的。
“Infrastructure projects are very large and it is not a very good idea for one bank to spend $2bn or $3bn on one project,” he said. A “huge amount of chemistry” had already developed between the AIIB, World Bank and ADB, he added.
他说:“基建项目规模巨大,由一个银行在一个项目上投资20亿美元或30亿美元并不是好主意。”他补充说,亚投行、世行和亚开行之间已经“擦出了巨大的火花”。
China launched the AIIB last year with 57 countries joining as founding members as Beijing attempts to bolster its overseas influence. The move prompted misgivings within the US over the potential for the institution to act as competition to decades old US-dominated institutions.
去年,中国与57个国家发起成立了亚投行。这57个国家是在中国政府试图提升该行在中国境外影响之际,以创始成员国身份加入的。亚投行的成立在美国国内引起了担忧,担心该机构可能会成为已有数十年历史的多个美国主导的机构的竞争对手。
It also triggered concerns about the social and environmental standards that would be adhered to by the AIIB. The US declined to join the bank, even as allies including the UK signed up.
此举还引发了对亚投行会秉持的社会标准和环境标准的担忧。尽管包括英国在内的美国盟友都加入了亚投行,美国仍拒绝加入该行。
The US has subsequently attempted to put the spat behind it, and Mr Jin on Wednesday rejected the notion that countries that had not jumped on board had made a mistake, saying there was “ample room for co-operation”.
美国之后曾试图抛开争议,而金立群也在周三否认了未加入亚投行的国家犯了错误的说法,表示存在“巨大的合作空间”。
The AIIB was benefiting from American professionals working within its walls, and US companies could bid to work on projects, he added.
他补充说,亚投行内部美国专业人士的工作令该行十分受益,而美企也可以竞标参与该行项目。
Earlier in the day Mr Jin met with Jim Yong Kim, World Bank president, to sign a co-financing framework agreement. The AIIB expects to approve about $1.2bn in financing this year, with World Bank joint projects anticipated to account for a “sizeable share”, the parties said.
当天早些时候,金立群曾与世行行长金墉(Jim Yong Kim)会晤,签署一份合作融资框架协议。双方表示,今年亚投行预计会批准约12亿美元融资,其中世行合作项目预计会占据“相当大的份额”。
They are in discussions over close to 12 co-financed projects in sectors including transport, water and energy in Asia. Mr Kim said it was an “important first step toward working with a new partner to address the world’s huge infrastructure needs”.
双方就近12个共同融资项目开展了磋商,这些项目涵盖亚洲的交通运输、水利和能源等部门。金墉表示,此举“向着与新伙伴合作满足全球巨大基建需求的方向,迈出了重要的第一步”。
Under the new agreement, the World Bank is set to prepare and supervise the co-financed projects “in accordance with its policies and procedures in areas like procurement, environment and social safeguards”.
根据新的协议,世行将“在采购、环境和社会保障之类的领域,依照其政策和程序”筹备和监督共同融资项目的实施。
Mr Jin said the bank’s mandate could go beyond physical infrastructure and into health and education. Given estimates that demand for infrastructure could range towards $10tn over the coming decade, his institution did not represent competition to other government lenders, he said. “There is vast room for co-operation,” he added.
金立群表示,该行的使命或超出实体基础设施的范畴,进入医疗卫生和教育领域。他说,据估计未来十年基建需求或达10万亿美元,考虑到这一估计,亚投行并不意味着与其他政府银行的竞争。他补充说:“存在巨大的合作空间。”