Berlin, January 15, 2026
Ten years after the founding of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), its first president, Jin Liqun, is handing over the reins to his successor, Zou Jiayi, today. She is a member of the Central Committee, China's highest governing body, and China's former Vice Minister of Finance.
Dr. Nora Sausmikat, AIIB expert and Senior Campaigner on multilateral financial institutions at Urgewald, comments: “With leadership now passing to a former Deputy Minister of Finance, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is moving closer to the centre of power in Beijing.
“Since its founding, China’s Ministry of Finance has served as the bank’s supervisory authority. But while outgoing President Jin Liqun came from the multilateral banking world, the AIIB will now be led by Zou Jiayi, a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee. This marks a further shift in financial control in China away from state institutions and towards the party.
“European shareholders who invest taxpayer money in this bank should be aware of the consequences of this centralization."
Sausmikat adds: “This should also be a turning point for shareholders to finally put climate protection and human rights at the heart of their engagement with the bank.
“The AIIB brands itself as green, yet more than a third of its energy sector funding still goes to fossil gas. European shareholders have pledged to push for the highest environmental and human rights standards, but so far not a single complaint has been accepted.
“At a moment when the US is undermining UN related institutions and agreements, AIIB shareholders should be all the more committed to promoting international agreements within the bank."
