2024-10-06 12:01:31
Exclusive interview with President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun to AMI Trend about the bank’s role in promoting sustainable development and combating climate change throughout the region. Let us remind you that AMI Trend is one of the leading suppliers of news from the Central Asian region in the global information space.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is committed to improving infrastructure and connectivity in the Central Asia region, while integrating climate resilience into its investments.
As Day.Az reports, AIIB President Jin Liqun said this in an exclusive interview with Trend.
On the sidelines of the AIIB’s annual meeting in Samarkand, Jin Liqun outlined the bank’s ongoing efforts to finance renewable energy projects, strengthen regional ties and address climate challenges.
“Connectivity, especially across borders, is one of the most important areas of our funding. But we must remember that such projects and climate finance are interconnected. By funding road, rail or metro projects, we can improve transport efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.” , he said.
According to the president of the bank, the countries of Central Asia from the very beginning of the AIIB showed great interest in participating in its development.
“Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have actively participated in the formation of this important financial institution. Their participation is key as we work to promote sustainable development, the net-zero transition and improve the lives of people across the region,” he said.
Jin Liqun emphasized the leading role of Uzbekistan in the bank’s activities, noting the significant portfolio of projects in the country.
“In January of this year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the AIIB headquarters in Beijing to discuss further cooperation. Uzbekistan is one of our most active members in Central Asia. We have already approved 15 projects totaling $3.1 billion, and we have more to come a significant amount of work,” he said.
In addition, the bank president emphasized that the AIIB pays special attention to projects in the field of infrastructure and Internet connectivity in Uzbekistan, especially in Bukhara. “Here in Uzbekistan, we have financed a road project in Bukhara, and I believe that in the future we also plan to invest in connectivity projects within the country and with neighboring countries,” he noted.
Jin Liqun also touched on the importance of combating climate change in the region, especially in light of the upcoming COP29 conference.
“We are focused on promoting clean and renewable energy projects. For example, Board members and management visited a solar power plant that covers an area of 440 hectares. The project will provide clean, renewable electricity to 265,000 households. We will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 270,000 tons per year. This is a great project and we plan to do more in this direction,” he said.
Ahead of COP29 in Azerbaijan, the AIIB President emphasized the global importance of cooperation in the fight against climate change.
“We participated in COP27, COP28, and we will also participate in COP29. The idea is to exchange ideas with other multilateral development banks, partners and various government delegations. It is very important to remember that climate change is a global issue that will undoubtedly be addressed humanity faces. Only by working together can we hope to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We attach great importance to the upcoming COP29 conference and have established very close cooperation with all stakeholders in this area. members of the AIIB delegation will arrive,” the bank’s president said in conclusion.