Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi visited founding members Cambodia, Malaysia, Lao PDR and Bangladesh April 1-4, reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to deliver sustainable infrastructure and strengthen collaboration for impact in support of members’ development priorities.
As part of a “listening tour” Zou has undertaken since assuming office in January, these visits aimed to engage directly with members and partners to better understand their priorities, expectations and evolving challenges. They also provided an opportunity to take stock of ongoing cooperation, deepen partnerships and identify opportunities to enhance the impact of high-quality infrastructure solutions amid a challenging external environment, including spillover effects from the conflict in the Middle East.
Discussions with national leaders, AIIB governors, ministers and institutional partners centered on how AIIB can further align its support with members’ priorities, accelerate project preparation and implementation, and scale up investments in green, resilient and technology-enabled infrastructure.
In Phnom Penh, Zou met with Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet and reaffirmed Cambodia’s importance as a strategic partner. She underscored AIIB’s continued commitment to supporting development projects aligned with the country’s long-term vision.
Zou also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth; Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Hem Vanndy; and Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea. Discussions focused on pipeline development, project readiness and implementation bottlenecks, as well as the role of sustainable infrastructure in enhancing competitiveness and inclusive growth.
In Kuala Lumpur, Zou met with Prime Minister Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim to reaffirm the strong partnership between Malaysia and AIIB and advance strategic, long-term engagement. Discussions focused on Malaysia’s development priorities, including the green energy transition, digital infrastructure and advanced technologies.
Zou also met with Deputy Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof to exchange views on infrastructure and development priorities, particularly in relation to energy transition and the ASEAN Power Grid (APG).
In addition, she met with Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Dato’ Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour to discuss AIIB’s evolving role in supporting sustainable finance and mobilizing private capital, and to explore opportunities for closer collaboration.
In Vientiane, Zou met with Minister of Finance and AIIB Governor Santiphab Phomvihane and reaffirmed AIIB’s commitment to support Lao PDR’s development priorities. Discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening transport connectivity, enhancing climate resilience and supporting the country’s transition from a landlocked to a land-linked economy.
In Dhaka, Zou met with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Minister of Finance and AIIB Governor Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury to exchange views on Bangladesh’s urgent needs and development agenda, as well as the importance of coordinated responses to external economic pressures.
Rahman emphasized the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving job creation and supporting inclusive economic growth. Noting the strong alignment with AIIB’s emphasis on people-centered development, Zou highlighted the importance of investing in human capital, particularly through empowering women and families, and underscored that targeted investments in people can generate meaningful and lasting development impact.
“Through close engagement with our members, AIIB seeks to better understand their priorities and tailor our support to address development challenges, strengthen economic resilience and advance sustainable growth,” Zou said.
