AIIB head becoming influential in world of finance

Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, is far from being a household name in China, yet he is arguably one of the better known Chinese in Washington.

David Malpass, the new president of the World Bank, referred to him simply as "Mr. Jin" in his first, brief news conference last week in Washington, and The New York Times identified him "a banker inspired by Western novelists" who is seeking to build Asia.

A Shakespearian scholar and former vice-minister of China's Finance Ministry, Jin has led the newest multilateral development bank to expand its membership from 57 to 93 in three years, financed projects with other such banks to the tune of billions of dollars, and won top marks from leading rating agencies.