亚投行协定正式签署 中国暂列第一大股东

 　　The signing of the Articles of Agreement or the mini-constitution for the AIIB at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing wraps up six-months of intense negotiations¹ paving the way for the bank to become operational before the end of this year.

　　Australia was the first country to sign the formal charter creating the AIIB's legal framework that would determine the number of shares that each member would get and the bank's initial capital.

　　Seven other prospective² founding members, including Denmark, Kuwait, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, South Africa and Thailand are still waiting for domestic approval before signing.

　　The AIIB led by China aims to fund energy, transport and infrastructure³ projects across Asia.

　　Chinese President Xi Jinping met the delegates after the signing ceremony.

　　亚投行协定正式签署 中国暂列第一大股东

　　He said that much progress has been made towards the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank since the idea was first proposed in October, 2013.

　　"We are very happy today to see representatives of the prospective members of AIIB gathered together. This shows a spirit of unity⁴ and cooperation, openness and inclusion. I trust that if we continue with this spirit of multilateral cooperation, then the preparation work for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will be conducted successfully."

　　The bank will have an initial share capital of 100 billion US dollars and China will contribute 29.7 billion US Dollars out of that.

　　This makes China the largest shareholder⁵ in the bank with a 30 percent stake. This will also give China 26 percent of the total vote.

　　Neighboring Asian heavyweight India is the second-biggest shareholder, but with just over an 8 percent stake. Russia and Germany will become third and fourth biggest contributors.

　　According to its legal framework, Seventy-five percent of the bank's shares will be distributed among Asian countries, while the other 25 percent will be assigned to members outside the region like the UK and France and many Latin American and African members.

　　The Articles of Association also specify⁶ that the bank's president must come from the Asian region and will serve a maximum of two consecutive⁷ five-year terms. The bank will be headquartered in Beijing.

　　Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei says he was confident that the AIIB could start functioning before the end of this year.

　　"I'm confident that through our united cooperation and unremitting effort, we will successfully accomplish the next stage of preparation work as scheduled, so that the AIIB will be formally established by the end of this year and be put into operation at an earlier date than initially⁸ thought."

　　Chinese authorities say the new bank will complement⁹ other established global lenders, like the World Bank and the International Monetary¹⁰ Fund.

　　The launch of the Beijing-proposed bank has been hailed as a diplomatic and strategic win for China.

　　For CRI I'm Poornima Weerasekara.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 shareholder   

n.股东，股票持有人

参考例句：

• The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
• A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。

6 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。

7 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

8 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

9 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

10 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。