(FILE)

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a China-initiated multilateral bank, started operational on January 16, marking a milestone to reform global economic governance system.

Representatives of the 57 prospective founding countries gathered in Beijing for the AIIB opening ceremony in the downtown Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a speech.

With joint efforts of all the members, the AIIB will become "a professional, efficient and clean development bank for the 21st century" and "a new platform to help foster a community of shared future for mankind" to make new contribution to prosperity of Asia and beyond and lend new strength to improvement of global economic governance, Xi said.

During the ceremony, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei was announced to be elected as the first Chairman of the AIIB Board of Governors. Jin Liqun was elected as the first AIIB President.

China vowed to contribute $50 million to the project preparation special fund to be established soon, to support the preparation for infrastructure development projects in less developed member states.

The AIIB will promote infrastructure related investment and financing for the benefit of all sides, Xi said, keeping Asia's enormous infrastructure development demand in mind.

Statistics from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) show that between 2010 and 2020, around $8 trillion in investment will be needed in the Asia-Pacific region to improve infrastructure.

Xi expected the China-initiated institution and other existing multilateral development banks to complement each other for mutual strength and cooperate on joint financing, knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Global leaders extended congratulations to the opening of the multilateral development bank.

"The ADB will cooperate closely with AIIB in supporting the development of the Asia Pacific region," said ADB President Takehiko Nakao in a congratulatory message to the opening of the AIIB.

"We will cooperate closely to provide support and constructive suggestions for the AIIB development," said Yoo Il-ho, deputy prime minister of the Republic of Korea at the opening ceremony.

China's Vice Finance Minister Shi Yaobin said in an interview with Xinhua that China does not intend to apply for financial support from AIIB in the initial stage.

The AIIB was proposed by President Xi Jinping in October 2013. Two years later, the bank was formally established as the Articles of Agreement took effect on December 25, 2015.

As its name suggests, the AIIB will finance construction of infrastructures - airports, mobile phone towers, railways and roads - in Asia.

Amid the evolving trend of the global economic landscape, Xi expected the AIIB will help make the global economic governance system more just, equitable and effective.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2016)