Former deputy finance minister Jin Liqun tipped to become head of China-led AIIB
Jin Liqun, front runner for AIIB's top job, has a reputation as a skilled troubleshooter
A former deputy finance minister may become the first head of the international development bank led by China that more than 50 countries around the world have signed up to join, according to analysts.
Jin Liqun, who has been heading a panel to initiate the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), is expected to be the top candidate to become the lender's president when the bank is formally launched later this year, according to Wang Jun , a senior researcher at the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, a government-backed think tank.
Jin, 66, a former deputy finance minister and ex-vice-president at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), had "Beijing's strong backing and wide endorsement from various areas", according to Wang.
He said China was likely to retain the largest voting rights among the bank's members and there was a strong possibility that Beijing would name its own official as president.
President Xi Jinping proposed setting up the bank during a visit to Southeast Asia in October 2013, hoping the institution would supply some of an estimated US$800 billion needed annually to upgrade infrastructure in the region.
