FISF Dean Charles Zhang Invited for Interview with CNA, Analyzing the Prospects for Establishment of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Development Bank | Info

Release time：2025-10-03    

Recently, the 25th Session of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization concluded in Tianjin. The session emphasized that the preparation for the establishment of SCO Development Bank should be accelerated, which would set up a new platform for multilateral cooperation in the Eurasian region and strongly promote the collaborative development of the infrastructure construction and economic society in SCO countries. 

Charles Zhang
FISF Deputy Dean of Academic and 
Professor in Finance

On September 25th, Channel NewsAsia (CNA) interviewed Professor Charles Zhang, FISF Deputy Dean of Academics, on this matter. He pointed out that the establishment of SCO Development Bank is a natural extension and deepening of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. He held that China’s banking industry, equipped with a large scale and profound strength, will lay foundation for the stable operation of this multilateral financial institute and thus exert a far-reaching influence on the global financial pattern. As for development, he predicted that the bank would focus on large-scale infrastructure projects in the beginning, and expand to emerging technological fields in the future, like rare earth, artificial intelligence and digital finance. 

Meanwhile, Zhang stressed that a sound internal governance structure and transparent operational mechanisms are crucial for the development of the SCO Development Bank, and that it is essential to continuously refine its management framework in areas such as fund allocation and investment approaches. He noted that member states with close economic and trade ties to China are likely to derive more significant developmental benefits from the bank, while the ultimate result shall depend on the collective deliberation and joint efforts of all participating parties.