The first meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s International Advisory Panel held in Beijing, China, ended with a major focus on the global economic situation and its implications for the Bank’s operations, the need to promote green infrastructure in the new global agenda and the importance of increasing private sector involvement in infrastructure in the region.

At the close of the meeting, President Jin said, “It is a great honour to convene such an experienced and diverse group of international leaders to advise on the development of the Bank's strategy. I have no doubt that the advice the Panel provides will help shape the development of the Bank in the years ahead, and I could not ask for a better group of ambassadors to help promote our new Bank to the world.”

The panel parades international financial management heavyweights, among them Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Senior Advisor, Lazard; former Finance Minister, Nigeria; former Managing Director, World Bank.

Others are Mr. Shaukat Aziz, former Prime Minister of Pakistan; Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia's Central Bank; Mr. Anders Borg, former Finance Minister of Sweden; Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, former Prime Minister of Japan; Mr. Steve Howard,

Secretary General of the Global Foundation; Dr. Oh-Seok Hyun, Chair Professor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance of Korea.

The rest are Ms. Emilia Pires, former Finance Minister of Timor-Leste; Mr. Paul Speltz, former U.S. Ambassador, Chairman and CEO of Global Strategic Associates; Lord Nicholas Stern, Professor at the London School of Economics, Former Chief Economist of the World Bank; and Mr. Tung Chee-Hwa, former Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR.

The Panel provides impartial, objective and independent advice to the President, allowing the Bank to benefit from the international experience and expertise of Panel members.

•Photo shows Okonjo-Iweala.

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