KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 6): China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) continued to express its interest to participate in infrastructure projects in Malaysia, particularly in the transportation and power generation segments.

"Infrastructure is all the rage," AIIB president and chair Jin Liqun told a press conference held at the World Capital Market Symposium today. "Certainly we would be interested in identifying infrastructure projects in this country.

"I look forward to a bigger role by Malaysia in AIIB," Jin said, explaining that the bank is also keen to fund similar projects by Malaysian companies overseas as well.

"Malaysia is certainly eligible for the bank's (AIIB) financing and I believe that Malaysia has very good infrastructure projects. Given that Malaysia companies' capacity, probably we can work together to support infrastructure in the neighbouring countries and other parts of the worlds.

"We hope that Malaysian companies or consultant firms will actively [participate] in international competitive bidding because you have very good companies in infrastructure investment," said Jin.

AIIB, he said, focuses on transportation-related developments that will improve connectivity between Malaysia and neighbouring countries as well as power generation, among others. He, however, did not disclose any specific infrastructure project in Malaysia that is being eyed by the bank currently.

On a related matter, Jin dismissed the notion that AIIB is only seeking projects that will benefit China's One Belt One Road initiative. "Any member is eligible to borrow from the bank," he said.

"Currently our focus is in Asia, but in the future we certainly should also support infrastructure projects in our member countries — we have members in Africa, South America as well as Eastern European countries," he said.

Malaysia co-founded the development bank (by investing US$109.5 million for its paid-up capital) alongside 56 other countries in January 2016, which has since increased its membership to 84 countries.