China-led AIIB development bank holds signing ceremony

China is hosting the signing ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a new international financial institution set to rival the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Delegates from 57 countries will sign articles that determine each member's share and the bank's initial capital.

The UK, Germany, Australia and South Korea are among the founding members.

Japan and the US, which oppose the AIIB, are the most prominent countries not to join.

The US has questioned the governance standards at the new institution, which it sees as spreading Chinese "soft power".

The AIIB, which was created in October by 21 countries, led by China, will fund Asian energy, transport and infrastructure projects.


Country delegates gathered at Beijing's Great Hall of the People for the signing ceremony.

Most Asian countries and countries from the Middle East and Latin America have joined, with the launch of the Beijing-led bank being hailed as a diplomatic and strategic success for China.

It is one of several institutions China has created to push its own economic agenda, largely driven by frustration over its lack of influence in the big global financial institutions such as the World Bank, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing.

The AIIB will begin with authorised capital of $50bn (£31.8bn), eventually to be raised to $100bn.

Delegates told Reuters in May that China was likely to hold a 25-30% stake, with India the second-biggest shareholder with a possible 10-15% stake.

Russia and Germany will make up the third and fourth biggest member stakes, the news agency reports quoting a draft document.

Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said on Monday he was confident the AIIB could start functioning before the end of the year, according to Reuters.