The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank listed its inaugural global bond on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The first bond, a 2.5 billion U.S. dollar five year issue attracted orders of over 4.4 billion U.S. dollars last week. CGTN's Stephen Cole sat down for an exclusive interview with AIIB President, Jin Liqun, to ask him where the money will be spent.

JIN LIQUN AIIB PRESIDENT "Over the last 3 and a half years we have tried our very best to invest in infrastructure projects, particularly transport, energy, urban development, water supply, sanitation and renewable energy projects, you know, to promote a green economy."

STEPHEN COLE LONDON "So that follows your edict about spending the money in lean green way?"

JIN LIQUN AIIB PRESIDENT "Yes. because this bank's core value is the bank being lean, clean and green. You know why we chose this time to issue the bonds? Seventeen months into the operation, we got a AAA from all of the major rating companies, but it was not the right time to do it right after that, because we had to build up a solid lending programme to build up our high quality assets and people need time to see how this bank, the management and the board are working together to put in place a series of policies and strategies making sure the bank would be run by very high standards. It's now the time for us to go to the market and to set up our presence."

STEPHEN COLE LONDON "Is the main motivation for the bank to fund Belt and Road?" 

JIN LIQUN AIIB PRESIDENT "I clarified this issue on numerous occasions. AIIB is a multilateral development bank, which is based on the experience of the multilateral development banks over the last seven decades or so. We invest in Asia and beyond. Whereas the Belt and Road programme is a platform, the platform offers vast space to all of the interested countries in the world to work together to improve connectivity."

STEPHEN COLE LONDON "You had a rocky start, the Obama administration didn't want to be part of this, but then, did the UK help? Did they provide some leadership?"

JIN LIQUN AIIB PRESIDENT "The UK decided to join this bank when the rest of the world, particularly the western world, was full of scepticism, questions, misgivings, doubts and I really appreciated it very much. To stay engaged is really the best approach. But you see, I stay very calm. I fully understand it's the sovereign governments' decision whether they will join an institution, be it international or otherwise. But you see, I make it very much clear, the bank is inclusive. The door has flown open and it will remain that way. Regardless of membership of the United States, regardless of the membership of Japan, we can work together."