NEW DELHI — Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng met Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, with both sides agreeing to strengthen cooperation on Việt Nam’s infrastructure and sustainable development priorities.
During the meeting, PM Hưng congratulated Zou on her election as AIIB President for the 2026–31 term and praised the bank’s contribution to mobilising resources for infrastructure development, regional connectivity and sustainable growth.
He also welcomed the progress made in cooperation between Việt Nam and the AIIB in recent years.
Việt Nam seeks greater AIIB support for major projects
PM Hưng called on the AIIB to continue supporting Việt Nam in developing large-scale infrastructure projects capable of delivering significant economic and social benefits.
Priority areas include the green and energy transition, clean energy, urban development, transport infrastructure and regional connectivity.
The Prime Minister also encouraged the bank to expand technical assistance for project preparation and help Việt Nam develop innovative financing structures.
Greater co-financing with international development partners and private investors could help mobilise additional resources to meet the country’s substantial infrastructure investment needs, he said.
Strategic infrastructure central to Việt Nam’s development model
PM Hưng highlighted Việt Nam’s ongoing transition toward a development model increasingly driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.
Against this backdrop, Việt Nam wants to establish a stronger long-term partnership with the AIIB, particularly in strategic infrastructure, green development and climate adaptation.
He proposed that the bank work closely with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and local authorities to establish a medium- and long-term portfolio of projects aligned with Việt Nam’s socio-economic development priorities and the AIIB’s investment objectives.
Such an approach could allow both sides to move beyond individual projects toward a more coordinated investment programme.
Innovative financing and domestic capital mobilisation
The Vietnamese Prime Minister also proposed closer cooperation between the AIIB and domestic financial institutions.
He suggested exploring financing models similar to those used by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Potential areas of cooperation could include jointly mobilising capital, issuing bonds in Việt Nam’s domestic financial market and developing a pipeline of financially viable infrastructure projects.
Combining international development financing with domestic and private-sector capital could expand the resources available for Việt Nam’s infrastructure ambitions.
AIIB sees Việt Nam as an important partner
Zou described Việt Nam as an important AIIB partner and expressed support for expanding cooperation between the bank and the country.
She welcomed the priority areas outlined by PM Hưng and supported moving from a project-by-project model toward programme-based cooperation.
Such an approach could help create a pipeline of high-quality projects that are ready for implementation and capable of attracting financing on favourable terms.
The AIIB encouraged Vietnamese ministries, localities and agencies to propose potential projects for consideration.
Areas of particular interest include transport and railway connectivity, green transition, clean energy, urban development and cross-border infrastructure.
Zou said the bank is also prepared to cooperate with Việt Nam in identifying, preparing and implementing priority projects.
Turning discussions into concrete investment
Both sides agreed that the next priority should be translating the outcomes of the meeting into practical initiatives.
Closer coordination between the AIIB and Vietnamese authorities is expected to help identify projects, improve preparation and develop appropriate financing mechanisms.
The partnership comes as Việt Nam seeks significant investment to modernise its transport, energy and urban infrastructure while pursuing greener and more sustainable economic growth.
By developing a longer-term portfolio rather than relying solely on individual projects, Việt Nam and the AIIB aim to establish a more systematic framework for infrastructure cooperation.
The two sides agreed to maintain close coordination with the goal of deepening the Việt Nam–AIIB partnership and supporting the country’s demand for modern, resilient, green and sustainable infrastructure.
