CAREC Institute Deepens Regional Partnerships at 2025 AIIB Annual Meeting

A delegation from the CAREC Institute (CI), led by Director Charymuhammet Shallyyev, concluded a productive engagement at the 2025 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Annual Meeting in Beijing from June 24 to 27, advancing collaboration with multilateral partners to accelerate regional cooperation and integration across CAREC region.

The delegation, including Deputy Director Two Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, Mr. Josh Hu, Chief of the Human Resource and Finance Division, Mr. Turdakun Tashbolotov, Chief of the Strategic Planning Division, and Ms. Jesscy Hu, Coordination Specialist, participated in high-level dialogues, including the AIIB Annual Meeting Opening Ceremony, Governors’ Official Session, Governors’ Business Roundtable and other high-level sessions, and held strategic meetings with AIIB leadership, the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), and the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI).

In discussions with AIIB Chief Economist Dr. Erik Berglöf, CI discussed opportunities for joint research on infrastructure financing, green transition, and regional connectivity. Both institutions agreed to explore data-sharing mechanisms to enhance CI’s policy tools, such as its Quarterly Economic Monitor, and to collaborate on sessions at the upcoming Tianshan Development Forum in Urumqi, which will focus on unlocking CAREC’s investment potential.

A pivotal meeting with MCDF CEO Mr. Wang Zhongjing and senior staff yielded plans to co-organize an “Invest in CAREC Region” Roundtable at the Tianshan Forum, aiming to mobilize public-private financing for priority projects. The two institutions also discussed developing joint technical assistance programs and knowledge products addressing regional infrastructure gaps, alongside institutional peer-learning initiatives.

The delegation reaffirmed its strategic partnership with RKSI during discussions with Ms. Chen Lijuan, Senior Economist at the Asian Development Bank. CI management acknowledged RKSI’s sustained support for the CAREC Institute’s flagship Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF) since 2019. Both parties committed to deepening collaboration through RKSI’s participation in the 2025 Tianshan Development Forum and joint capacity-building programs for CAREC officials. A dedicated RKSI-led session at future events will focus development successes across member economies.

Director Shallyyev held productive discussions with AIIB Acting Vice President Ms. Zheng Quan, emphasizing shared priorities in sustainable infrastructure development and institutional collaboration. The CAREC Institute highlighted its position as a regional knowledge hub and proposed formalized partnership mechanisms to enhance coordination under the CAREC 2030 strategy and complementary regional initiatives.

In his remarks, Director Shallyyev noted: “This gathering marks a turning point in CI’s mission to bridge policy and practice. By uniting AIIB’s financial expertise, MCDF’s multilateral networks, and RKSI’s technical knowledge, we can catalyze transformative investments and innovation for a resilient CAREC region.”

CI will further finalize action plans with partners, prioritizing joint research, event co-hosting, and technical exchanges. These efforts align with CAREC’s goals to boost connectivity, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.