ChinaTalk and Panel Debate: AIIB – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

In collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ThinkChina and the University of Copenhagen are proud to invite you to a ChinaTalk and panel debate on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) featuring its Danish treasurer, Mr. Søren Elbech, as the main speaker. The event will take place at Asia House and will focus on why Denmark decided to join the AIIB, China's motives behind wanting to create the AIIB and lastly how the AIIB works in the landscape of international development financing.

Program

  1. Welcome moderator, Professor Wusheng Yu, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.
  2. Why did Denmark join the AIIB? Jesper S. Thomsen, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Danish Representative at the Board of Directors, AIIB
  3. What were China’s motives behind AIIB? Professor Jørgen Delman, China Studies, University of Copenhagen.
  4. AIIB in the landscape of international development financing – what is the added value? Main speaker Søren Elbech, AIIB
  5. Q&A debate panel with Søren Elbech, Jørgen Delman og Jesper S. Thomsen  moderated by Wusheng Yu 

Abstract

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is the youngest multilateral development bank and began operations in 2016. AIIB was established as an initiative by the Chinese government with headquarters in Beijing and now has 87 members. AIIB’s mission is to promote social and economic development in Asia by investing in sustainable infrastructure. The motto of the Bank is Lean (effective, minimal bureaucracy and overhead), Clean (zero tolerance for corruption) and Green (environmentally friendly). Denmark is a founding member of the AIIB.

Main Speaker Bio

As Treasurer, Søren Elbech, has a central role in AIIB’s financial operations and, among many things, he is responsible for liquidity management, borrowings, asset- and liability management, long-term financial projections as well as the Bank’s credit rating (the best possible, Triple-A). Søren, who is Danish, has had an outstanding international career with management positions such as Treasurer of the Inter-American Development Bank (Washington DC, USA) as well as of Eksportfinans (Oslo, Norway), as Head of Funding of Nordic Investment Bank (Helsinki, Finland) and as Senior Vice President of Vestas (Washington DC). Before moving abroad, Søren worked for Danske Bank (including legacy banks like HandelsBanken, GiroBank, and BG Bank).

Practical information

Date & Time: 27th August 2018, 15.30-17.00

Venue: Asia House, India Kaj 16, 2100 Copenhagen

Registration required. Please follow this link. Please note that seating is limited to 70 people. First come first served

The event is organized by ThinkChina.dk at University of Copenhagen and University of Copenhagen Global Development in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.