ACT No. XLIV of 2015 AN ACT to enable Malta to become a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

I assent.

M ARIE L OUISE

(L.S.)

C OLEIRO P RECA

President

22nd December, 2015

ACT No. XLIV of 2015

AN ACT to enable Malta to become a founding member of the

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

BE IT ENACTED by the President, by and with the advice and

consent of the House of Representatives, in this present Parliament

assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

The title of this Act is the Malta Membership of the Asian Short title.

Infrastructure Investment Bank Act, 2015.

(Article 2)

ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK

Articles of Agreement

FINAL TEXT FOR ADOPTION

at 5th Chief Negotiators’ Meeting

May 22, 2015

The countries on whose behalf the present Agreement is signed agree as

follows

CONSIDERING the importance of regional cooperation to sustain growth

and promote economic and social development of the economies in Asia and

thereby contribute to regional resilience against potential financial crises and

other external shocks in the context of globalization;

ACKNOWLEDGING the significance of infrastructure development in

expanding regional connectivity and improving regional integration, thereby

promoting economic growth and sustaining social development for the

people in Asia, and contributing to global economic dynamism;

REALIZING that the considerable long-term need for financing

infrastructure development in Asia will be met more adequately by a

partnership among existing multilateral development banks and the Asian

Infrastructure Investment Bank (hereinafter referred to as the “Bank”);

CONVINCED that the establishment of the Bank as a multilateral financial

institution focused on infrastructure development will help to mobilize much

needed additional resources from inside and outside Asia and to remove the

financing bottlenecks faced by the individual economies in Asia, and will

complement the existing multilateral development banks, to promote

sustained and stable growth in Asia;

HAVE AGREED to establish the Bank, which shall operate in accordance

with the following

CHAPTER I

PURPOSE, FUNCTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP

Article 1

Purpose

1. The purpose of the Bank shall be to: (i) foster sustainable economic

development, create wealth and improve infrastructure connectivity in Asia by

investing in infrastructure and other productive sectors; and (ii) promote regional

cooperation and partnership in addressing development challenges by working in

close collaboration with other multilateral and bilateral development institutions.

2. Wherever used in this Agreement, references to “Asia” and “region”

shall include the geographical regions and composition classified as Asia and

Oceania by the United Nations, except as otherwise decided by the Board of

Governors.

Article 2

Functions

To implement its purpose, the Bank shall have the following functions

(i)

to promote investment in the region of public and private capital

for development purposes, in particular for development of infrastructure and

other productive sectors;

(ii)

to utilize the resources at its disposal for financing such

development in the region, including those projects and programs which will

contribute most effectively to the harmonious economic growth of the region

as a whole and having special regard to the needs of less developed members

in the region;

(iii)

to encourage private investment in projects, enterprises and

activities contributing to economic development in the region, in particular in

infrastructure and other productive sectors, and to supplement private

investment when private capital is not available on reasonable terms and

conditions; and

(iv)

to undertake such other activities and provide such other

services as may further these functions.

Article 3

Membership

1. Membership in the Bank shall be open to members of the International

Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the Asian Development Bank.

(a)

Regional members shall be those members listed in Part A of

Schedule A and other members included in the Asia region in accordance

with Article 1. All other members shall be non-regional members.

(b)

Founding Members shall be those members listed in Schedule A

which, on or before the date specified in Article 57, shall have signed this

Agreement and shall have fulfilled all other conditions of membership before

the final date specified under paragraph 1 of Article 58.

2. Members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and

Development or the Asian Development Bank which do not become members in

accordance with Article 58 may be admitted, under such terms and conditions as

the Bank shall determine, to membership in the Bank by a Special Majority vote of

the Board of Governors as provided in Article 28.

3. In the case of an applicant which is not sovereign or not responsible for

the conduct of its international relations, application for membership in the Bank

shall be presented or agreed by the member of the Bank responsible for its

international relations.

CHAPTER II

CAPITAL

Article 4

Authorized Capital

1. The authorized capital stock of the Bank shall be one hundred billion

United States dollars ($100,000,000,000), divided into one million (1,000,000)

shares having a par value of 100,000 dollars ($100,000) each, which shall be

available for subscription only by members in accordance with the provisions of

Article 5.

2. The original authorized capital stock shall be divided into paid-in shares

and callable shares. Shares having an aggregate par value of twenty billion dollars

($20,000,000,000) shall be paid-in shares, and shares having an aggregate par

value of eighty billion dollars ($80,000,000,000) shall be callable.

3. The authorized capital stock of the Bank may be increased by the Board

of Governors by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28, at such time and

under such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable, including the

proportion between paid-in and callable shares.

4. The term “dollar” and the symbol “$” wherever used in this Agreement

shall be understood as being the official currency of payment of the United States

of America.

Article 5

Subscription of Shares

1. Each member shall subscribe to shares of the capital stock of the Bank.

Each subscription to the original authorized capital stock shall be for paid-in

shares and callable shares in the proportion two (2) to eight (8). The initial number

of shares available to be subscribed by countries which become members in

accordance with Article 58 shall be that set forth in Schedule A.

2. The initial number of shares to be subscribed by countries which are

admitted to membership in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 3 shall be

determined by the Board of Governors; provided, however, that no such

subscription shall be authorized which would have the effect of reducing the

percentage of capital stock held by regional members below seventy-five (75) per

cent of the total subscribed capital stock, unless otherwise agreed by the Board of

Governors by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28.

3. The Board of Governors may, at the request of a member, increase the

subscription of such member on such terms and conditions as the Board may

determine by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28; provided, however,

that no such increase in the subscription of any member shall be authorized which

would have the effect of reducing the percentage of capital stock held by regional

members below seventy-five (75) per cent of the total subscribed capital stock,

unless otherwise agreed by the Board of Governors by a Super Majority vote as

provided in Article 28.

4. The Board of Governors shall at intervals of not more than five (5)

years review the capital stock of the Bank. In case of an increase in the authorized

capital stock, each member shall have a reasonable opportunity to subscribe, under

such terms and conditions as the Board of Governors shall determine, to a

proportion of the increase of stock equivalent to the proportion which its stock

theretofore subscribed bears to the total subscribed capital stock immediately prior

to such increase. No member shall be obligated to subscribe to any part of an

increase of capital stock.

Article 6

Payment of Subscriptions

1. Payment of the amount initially subscribed by each Signatory to this

Agreement which becomes a member in accordance with Article 58 to the paid-in

capital stock of the Bank shall be made in five (5) installments, of twenty (20) per

cent each of such amount, except as provided in paragraph 5 of this Article. The

first installment shall be paid by each member within thirty (30) days after entry

into force of this Agreement, or on or before the date of deposit on its behalf of its

instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval in accordance with paragraph 1

of Article 58, whichever is later. The second installment shall become due one (1)

year from the entry into force of this Agreement. The remaining three (3)

installments shall become due successively one (1) year from the date on which the

preceding installment becomes due.

2. Each installment of the payment of initial subscriptions to the original

paid-in capital stock shall be paid in dollars or other convertible currency, except

as provided in paragraph 5 of this Article. The Bank may at any time convert such

payments into dollars. All rights, including voting rights, acquired in respect of

paid-in and associated callable shares for which such payments are due but have

not been received shall be suspended until full payment is received by the Bank.

3. Payment of the amount subscribed to the callable capital stock of the

Bank shall be subject to call only as and when required by the Bank to meet its

liabilities. In the event of such a call, payment may be made at the option of the

member in dollars or in the currency required to discharge the obligations of the

Bank for the purpose of which the call is made. Calls on unpaid subscriptions shall

be uniform in percentage on all callable shares.

4. The Bank shall determine the place for any payment under this Article,

provided that, until the inaugural meeting of the Board of Governors, the payment

of the first installment referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be made to the

Government of the People’s Republic of China, as Trustee for the Bank.

5. A member considered as a less developed country for purposes of this

paragraph may pay its subscription under paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, as an

alternative, either

(a)

entirely in dollars or other convertible currency in up to ten (10)

installments, with each such installment equal to ten (10) percent of the total

amount, the first and second installments due as provided in paragraph 1, and

the third through tenth installments due on the second and subsequent

anniversary dates of the entry into force of this Agreement; or

(b)

with a portion in dollars or other convertible currency and a

portion of up to fifty (50) per cent of each installment in the currency of the

member, following the schedule of installments provided in paragraph 1 of

this Article. The following provisions shall apply to payments under this

sub-paragraph (b)

(i) The member shall advise the Bank at the time of

subscription under paragraph 1 of this Article of the proportion of

payments to be made in its own currency.

(ii) Each payment of a member in its own currency under this

paragraph 5 shall be in such amount as the Bank determines to be

equivalent to the full value in terms of dollars of the portion of the

subscription being paid. The initial payment shall be in such amount as

the member considers appropriate hereunder but shall be subject to such

adjustment, to be effected within ninety (90) days of the date on which

such payment was due, as the Bank shall determine to be necessary to

constitute the full dollar equivalent of such payment.

(iii) Whenever in the opinion of the Bank, the foreign exchange

value of a member's currency has depreciated to a significant extent,

that member shall pay to the Bank within a reasonable time an

additional amount of its currency required to maintain the value of all

such currency held by the Bank on account of its subscription.

(iv) Whenever in the opinion of the Bank, the foreign exchange

value of a member's currency has appreciated to a significant extent, the

Bank shall pay to that member within a reasonable time an amount of

that currency required to adjust the value of all such currency held by

the Bank on account of its subscription.

(v) The Bank may waive its rights to payment under sub-

paragraph (iii) and the member may waive its rights to payment under

sub-paragraph (iv).

6. The Bank shall accept from any member paying its subscription under

sub-paragraph 5 (b) of this Article promissory notes or other obligations issued by

the Government of the member, or by the depository designated by such member,

in lieu of the amount to be paid in the currency of the member, provided such

amount is not required by the Bank for the conduct of its operations. Such notes

or obligations shall be non-negotiable, non-interest-bearing, and payable to the

Bank at par value upon demand.

Article 7

Terms of Shares

1. Shares of stock initially subscribed by members shall be issued at par.

Other shares shall be issued at par unless the Board of Governors by a Special

Majority vote as provided in Article 28 decides in special circumstances to issue

them on other terms.

2. Shares of stock shall not be pledged or encumbered in any manner

whatsoever, and they shall be transferable only to the Bank.

3. The liability of the members on shares shall be limited to the unpaid

portion of their issue price.

4. No member shall be liable, by reason of its membership, for obligations

of the Bank.

Article 8

Ordinary Resources

As used in this Agreement, the term "ordinary resources" of the Bank shall

include the following

(i)

authorized capital stock of the Bank, including both paid-in and

callable shares, subscribed pursuant to Article 5;

(ii)

funds raised by the Bank by virtue of powers conferred by

paragraph 1 of Article 16, to which the commitment to calls provided for in

paragraph 3 of Article 6 is applicable;

(iii)

funds received in repayment of loans or guarantees made with

the resources indicated in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Article or as

returns on equity investments and other types of financing approved under

sub-paragraph 2 (vi) of Article 11 made with such resources;

(iv)

income derived from loans made from the aforementioned funds

or from guarantees to which the commitment to calls set forth in paragraph 3

of Article 6 is applicable; and

(v)

any other funds or income received by the Bank which do not

form part of its Special Funds resources referred to in Article 17 of this

Agreement.

CHAPTER III

OPERATIONS OF THE BANK

Article 9

Use of Resources

The resources and facilities of the Bank shall be used exclusively to

implement the purpose and functions set forth, respectively, in Articles 1 and 2,

and in accordance with sound banking principles.

Article 10 Ordinary and Special Operations

1. The operations of the Bank shall consist of

(i)

ordinary operations financed from the ordinary resources of the

Bank, referred to in Article 8; and

(ii)

special operations financed from the Special Funds resources

referred to in Article 17.

The two types of operations may separately finance elements of the same

project or program.

2. The ordinary resources and the Special Funds resources of the Bank

shall at all times and in all respects be held, used, committed, invested or otherwise

disposed of entirely separately from each other. The financial statements of the

Bank shall show the ordinary operations and special operations separately.

3. The ordinary resources of the Bank shall, under no circumstances, be

charged with, or used to discharge, losses or liabilities arising out of special

operations or other activities for which Special Funds resources were originally

used or committed.

4. Expenses appertaining directly to ordinary operations shall be charged

to the ordinary resources of the Bank. Expenses appertaining directly to special

operations shall be charged to the Special Funds resources. Any other expenses

shall be charged as the Bank shall determine.

Article 11

Recipients and Methods of Operation

1. (a)

The Bank may provide or facilitate financing to any member, or

any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or any entity or

enterprise operating in the territory of a member, as well as to international or

regional agencies or entities concerned with economic development of the region.

(b)

The Bank may, in special circumstances, provide assistance to a

recipient not listed in sub-paragraph (a) above only if the Board of Governors, by a

Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28: (i) shall have determined that such

assistance is designed to serve the purpose and come within the functions of the

Bank and is in the interest of the Bank’s membership; and (ii) shall have specified

the types of assistance under paragraph 2 of this Article that may be provided to

such recipient.

2. The Bank may carry out its operations in any of the following ways

(i)

by making, co-financing or participating in direct loans;

(ii)

by investment of funds in the equity capital of an institution or

enterprise;

(iii)

by guaranteeing, whether as primary or secondary obligor, in

whole or in part, loans for economic development;

(iv)

by deploying Special Funds resources in accordance with the

agreements determining their use;

(v)

by providing technical assistance in accordance with Article 15;

or

(vi)

through other types of financing as may be determined by the

Board of Governors, by a Special Majority vote as provided in Article 28.

Article 12 Limitations on Ordinary Operations

1. The total amount outstanding of loans, equity investments, guarantees

and other types of financing provided by the Bank in its ordinary operations under

sub-paragraphs 2 (i), (ii), (iii) and (vi) of Article 11 shall not at any time be

increased, if by such increase the total amount of its unimpaired subscribed capital,

reserves and retained earnings included in its ordinary resources would be

exceeded. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding sentence, the Board of

Governors may, by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28, determine at

any time that, based on the Bank’s financial position and financial standing, the

limitation under this paragraph may be increased, up to 250% of the Bank’s

unimpaired subscribed capital, reserves and retained earnings included in its

ordinary resources.

2. The amount of the Bank’s disbursed equity investments shall not at any

time exceed an amount corresponding to its total unimpaired paid-in subscribed

capital and general reserves.

Article 13 Operating Principles

The operations of the Bank shall be conducted in accordance with the

principles set out below.

1. The Bank shall be guided by sound banking principles in its operations.

2. The operations of the Bank shall provide principally for the financing of

specific projects or specific investment programs, for equity investment, and for

technical assistance in accordance with Article 15.

3. The Bank shall not finance any undertaking in the territory of a member

if that member objects to such financing.

4. The Bank shall ensure that each of its operations complies with the

Bank’s operational and financial policies, including without limitation, policies

addressing environmental and social impacts.

5. In considering an application for financing, the Bank shall pay due

regard to the ability of the recipient to obtain financing or facilities elsewhere on

terms and conditions that the Bank considers reasonable for the recipient, taking

into account all pertinent factors.

6. In providing or guaranteeing financing, the Bank shall pay due regard to

the prospects that the recipient and guarantor, if any, will be in a position to meet

their obligations under the financing contract.

7. In providing or guaranteeing financing, the financial terms, such as rate

of interest and other charges and the schedule for repayment of principal shall be

such as are, in the opinion of the Bank, appropriate for the financing concerned and

the risk to the Bank.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires

Interpretation.

"Agreement" means the Articles of Agreement of the Asian

Infrastructure Investment Bank (being the Articles of Agreement

adopted on the 22nd May 2015) as set out in the Schedule to this Act;

"Bank" means the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank;

"Central Bank of Malta" means the bank established by article 3

of the Central Bank of Malta Act;

"Malta" has the same meaning as is assigned to it in article 124

of the Constitution;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for finance;

"payment of subscriptions" means the payment mechanism

established by the Agreement;

"trustee for the Bank" means the Government of the People’s

Republic of China.

Initial Subscriptions to the Authorized Capital Stock for Countries Which

May Become Members in accordance with Article 58

Number of Shares

Capital Subscription

(in million $)

PART A.

REGIONAL MEMBERS

Australia

36,912

3,691.2

Azerbaijan

2,541

254.1

Bangladesh

6,605

660.5

Brunei Darussalam

52.4

Cambodia

62.3

China

297,804

29,780.4

Georgia

53.9

India

83,673

8,367.3

Indonesia

33,607

3,360.7

Iran

15,808

1,580.8

Israel

7,499

749.9

Jordan

1,192

119.2

Kazakhstan

7,293

729.3

Korea

37,388

3,738.8

Kuwait

5,360

536.0

Kyrgyz Republic

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Government of

Malta shall participate in the Agreement as a founding member,

Governor and an alternate Governor within the Board of Governors,

and as Director and alternate Director, in accordance with the terms

and conditions set out in the Agreement, as may be amended from

time to time.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Governors shall prescribe rules for the conduct of each election

of Directors, in accordance with the following provisions.

1. Constituencies. Each Director shall represent one or more members in a

constituency. The total aggregate voting power of each constituency shall consist

of the votes which the Director is entitled to cast under paragraph 3 of Article 28.

2. Constituency Voting Power. For each election, the Board of Governors

shall establish a Minimum Percentage for constituency voting power for Directors

to be elected by Governors representing regional members (Regional Directors)

and a Minimum Percentage for constituency voting power for Directors to be

elected by Governors representing non-regional members (Non-Regional

Directors).

(a)

The Minimum Percentage for Regional Directors shall be set as

a percentage of the total votes eligible to be cast in the election by the

Governors representing regional members (Regional Governors). The initial

Minimum Percentage for Regional Directors shall be 6%.

(b)

The Minimum Percentage for Non-Regional Directors shall be

set as a percentage of the total votes eligible to be cast in the election by the

Governors representing non-regional members (Non-Regional Governors).

The initial Minimum Percentage for Non-Regional Directors shall be 15%.

3. Adjustment Percentage. In order to adjust voting power across

constituencies when subsequent rounds of balloting are required under paragraph 7

below, the Board of Governors shall establish, for each election, an Adjustment

Percentage for Regional Directors and an Adjustment Percentage for Non-

Regional Directors.

Each Adjustment Percentage shall be higher than the

corresponding Minimum Percentage.

(a)

The Adjustment Percentage for Regional Directors shall be set

as a percentage of the total votes eligible to be cast in the election by the

Regional Governors. The initial Adjustment Percentage for Regional

Directors shall be 15%.

(b)

The Adjustment Percentage for Non-Regional Directors shall be

set as a percentage of the total votes eligible to be cast in the election by the

Non-Regional Governors. The initial Adjustment Percentage for Non-

Regional Directors shall be 60%.

4. Number of Candidates. For each election, the Board of Governors shall

establish the number of Regional Directors and Non-Regional Directors to be

elected, in light of its decisions on the size and composition of the Board of

Directors pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 25.

(a)

The initial number of Regional Directors shall be nine.

(b)

The initial number of Non-Regional Directors shall be three.

5. Nominations. Each Governor may only nominate one person.

Candidates for the office of Regional Director shall be nominated by Regional

Governors. Candidates for the office of Non-Regional Director shall be nominated

by Non-Regional Governors.

6. Voting. Each Governor may vote for one candidate, casting all of the

votes to which the member appointing him is entitled under paragraph 1 of Article

28. The election of Regional Directors shall be by ballot of Regional Governors.

The election of Non-Regional Directors shall be by ballot of Non-Regional

Governors.

7. First Ballot. On the first ballot, candidates receiving the highest number

of votes, up to the number of Directors to be elected, shall be elected as Directors,

provided that, to be elected, a candidate shall have received a sufficient number of

votes to reach the applicable Minimum Percentage.

(a)

If the required number of Directors is not elected on the first

ballot, and the number of candidates was the same as the number of Directors

to be elected, the Board of Governors shall determine the subsequent actions

to complete the election of Regional Directors or the election of Non-

Regional Directors, as the case may be.

8. Subsequent Ballots. If the required number of Directors is not elected

on the first ballot, and there were more candidates than the number of Directors to

be elected on the ballot, there shall be subsequent ballots, as necessary. For

subsequent ballots

(a)

The candidate receiving the lowest number of votes in the

preceding ballot shall not be a candidate in the next ballot.

(b)

Votes shall be cast only by: (i) Governors who voted in the

preceding ballot for a candidate who was not elected; and (ii) Governors

whose votes for a candidate who was elected are deemed to have raised the

votes for that candidate above the applicable Adjustment Percentage under

(c) below.

(c)

The votes of all the Governors who cast votes for each candidate

shall be added in descending order of number, until the number of votes

representing the applicable Adjustment Percentage has been exceeded.

Governors whose votes were counted in that calculation shall be deemed to

have cast all their votes for that Director, including the Governor whose

votes brought the total over the Adjustment Percentage. The remaining

Governors whose votes were not counted in that calculation shall be deemed

to have raised the candidate’s total votes above the Adjustment Percentage,

and the votes of those Governors shall not count towards the election of that

candidate. These remaining Governors may vote in the next ballot.

(d)

If in any subsequent ballot, only one Director remains to be

elected, the Director may be elected by a simple majority of the remaining

votes. All such remaining votes shall be deemed to have counted towards the

election of the last Director.

9. Assignment of Votes. Any Governor who does not participate in voting

for the election or whose votes do not contribute to the election of a Director may

assign the votes to which he is entitled to an elected Director, provided that such

Governor shall first have obtained the agreement of all those Governors who have

elected that Director to such assignment.

10. Founding Member Privileges. The nomination and voting by Governors

for Directors and the appointment of Alternate Directors by Directors shall respect

the principle that each Founding Member shall have the privilege to designate the

Director or an Alternate Director in its constituency permanently or on a rotating

basis.

Passed by the House of Representatives at Sitting No. 341 of the 16th

December, 2015.

A NĠLU F ARRUGIA

Speaker

R AYMOND S CICLUNA

Clerk of the House of Representatives

€3.42

The Minister is hereby authorised on behalf of the

Government of Malta to sign the Agreement and to deposit with the

Government of the People’s Republic of China the instrument of

acceptance of the said Agreement and of the terms and conditions

prescribed thereunder relating to the admission of Malta to

membership, or by instrument under his hand to empower such

person as may be named in such instrument to sign the said

Agreement and to deposit the said instrument of acceptance as

aforesaid.

(1)

It shall be the function of the Central Bank of

Malta -

(a)

to pay the amounts from time to time payable to the

Bank on account of Malta under the provisions of the

Agreement;

(b)

on behalf of Malta to fulfil all its obligations, to

exercise all its rights and to perform all its functions ensuring

from Malta’s participation in the Agreement.

(2) The Central Bank of Malta may, if it thinks fit, create and

issue to the Bank any such non-interest bearing and non-negotiable

promissory notes or other obligations as are provided for by Article

6(6) of the Agreement (which Article relates to the acceptance by the

Bank of promissory notes or similar obligations in place of currency).

(3) The Central Bank of Malta is hereby authorised to receive

from the Bank any sums relating to Malta’s subscription and any

sums to be received by reason of operations or transactions between

Malta and the Bank under Chapter III of the Agreement.

(4) Any interest due to Malta or any charge or assessment due

by Malta, as the case may be, by reason of Malta’s membership in the

Bank, shall be payable to or by the Central Bank of Malta on behalf of

Malta.

(1)

The provisions of Articles 45 to 51 inclusive of Certain

Chapter IX of the Agreement shall have the force of law in Malta, so provisions

the Agreement

however that, nothing in Article 51 of Chapter IX of the Agreement given

law in Malta.

shall be construed -

(a)

as entitling the Bank to import goods free of

customs duty without any restriction on their subsequent sale in

Malta;

(b)

as conferring on the Bank any exemption from

taxes and duties which form part of the price of goods acquired

by the Bank in Malta; or

(c)

as conferring on the Bank any exemption from

taxes or duties which are in fact no more than charges for

services rendered.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no tax of

any kind shall be levied on any obligation or security issued by the

Bank or on any obligation or security guaranteed by the Bank.

The Minister may by order make such provisions as are Power of the

necessary for carrying into effect any of the provisions of the Minister

make orders.

Agreement.

The Bank shall place no restriction upon the procurement of goods and

services from any country from the proceeds of any financing undertaken in the

ordinary or special operations of the Bank.

The Bank shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the proceeds

of any financing provided, guaranteed or participated in by the Bank are used only

for the purposes for which the financing was granted and with due attention to

considerations of economy and efficiency.

The Bank shall pay due regard to the desirability of avoiding a

disproportionate amount of its resources being used for the benefit of any member.

The Bank shall seek to maintain reasonable diversification in its

investments in equity capital. In its equity investments, the Bank shall not assume

responsibility for managing any entity or enterprise in which it has an investment

and shall not seek a controlling interest in the entity or enterprise concerned,

except where necessary to safeguard the investment of the Bank.

Article 14 Terms and Conditions for Financing

1. In the case of loans made or participated in or loans guaranteed by the

Bank, the contract shall establish, in conformity with the operating principles set

forth in Article 13 and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the terms

and conditions for the loan or the guarantee concerned. In setting such terms and

conditions, the Bank shall take fully into account the need to safeguard its income

and financial position.

2. Where the recipient of loans or guarantees of loans is not itself a

member, the Bank may, when it deems it advisable, require that the member in

whose territory the project concerned is to be carried out, or a public agency or any

instrumentality of that member acceptable to the Bank, guarantee the repayment of

the principal and the payment of interest and other charges on the loan in

accordance with the terms thereof.

3. The amount of any equity investment shall not exceed such percentage

of the equity capital of the entity or enterprise concerned as permitted under

policies approved by the Board of Directors.

4. The Bank may provide financing in its operations in the currency of the

country concerned, in accordance with policies that minimize currency risk.

Article 15 Technical Assistance

1. The Bank may provide technical advice and assistance and other similar

forms of assistance which serve its purpose and come within its functions.

2. Where expenditures incurred in furnishing such services are not

reimbursable, the Bank shall charge such expenditures to the income of the Bank.

CHAPTER IV

FINANCES OF THE BANK

Article 16 General Powers

In addition to the powers specified elsewhere in this Agreement, the Bank

shall have the powers set out below.

1. The Bank may raise funds, through borrowing or other means, in

member countries or elsewhere, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.

2. The Bank may buy and sell securities the Bank has issued or guaranteed

or in which it has invested.

3. The Bank may guarantee securities in which it has invested in order to

facilitate their sale.

4. The Bank may underwrite, or participate in the underwriting of,

securities issued by any entity or enterprise for purposes consistent with the

purpose of the Bank.

5. The Bank may invest or deposit funds not needed in its operations.

6. The Bank shall ensure that every security issued or guaranteed by the

Bank shall bear on its face a conspicuous statement to the effect that it is not an

obligation of any Government, unless it is in fact the obligation of a particular

Government, in which case it shall so state.

7. The Bank may establish and administer funds held in trust for other

parties, provided such trust funds are designed to serve the purpose and come

within the functions of the Bank, under a trust fund framework which shall have

been approved by the Board of Governors.

8. The Bank may establish subsidiary entities which are designed to serve

the purpose and come within the functions of the Bank, only with the approval of

the Board of Governors by a Special Majority vote as provided in Article 28.

9. The Bank may exercise such other powers and establish such rules and

regulations as may be necessary or appropriate in furtherance of its purpose and

functions, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 17 Special Funds

1. The Bank may accept Special Funds which are designed to serve the

purpose and come within the functions of the Bank; such Special Funds shall be

resources of the Bank. The full cost of administering any Special Fund shall be

charged to that Special Fund.

2. Special Funds accepted by the Bank may be used on terms and

conditions consistent with the purpose and functions of the Bank and with the

agreement relating to such Funds.

3. The Bank shall adopt such special rules and regulations as may be

required for the establishment, administration and use of each Special Fund. Such

rules and regulations shall be consistent with the provisions of this Agreement,

except for those provisions expressly applicable only to ordinary operations of the

Bank.

4. The term "Special Funds resources" shall refer to the resources of any

Special Fund and shall include

(i)

funds accepted by the Bank for inclusion in any Special Fund;

(ii)

funds received in respect of loans or guarantees, and the

proceeds of any equity investments, financed from the resources of any

Special Fund which, under the rules and regulations of the Bank governing

that Special Fund, are received by such Special Fund;

(iii)

income derived from investment of Special Funds resources;

and

(iv)

any other resources placed at the disposal of any Special Fund.

Article 18 Allocation and Distribution of Net Income

1. The Board of Governors shall determine at least annually what part of

the net income of the Bank shall be allocated, after making provision for reserves,

to retained earnings or other purposes and what part, if any, shall be distributed to

the members. Any such decision on the allocation of the Bank’s net income to

other purposes shall be taken by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28.

2. The distribution referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be made in

proportion to the number of shares held by each member, and payments shall be

made in such manner and in such currency as the Board of Governors shall

determine.

Article 19 Currencies

1. Members shall not impose any restrictions on currencies, including the

receipt, holding, use or transfer by the Bank or by any recipient from the Bank, for

payments in any country.

2. Whenever it shall become necessary under this Agreement to value any

currency in terms of another or determine whether any currency is convertible,

such valuation or determination shall be made by the Bank.

Article 20 Methods of Meeting Liabilities of the Bank

1. In the Bank’s ordinary operations, in cases of arrears or default on loans

made, participated in, or guaranteed by the Bank, and in cases of losses on equity

investment or other types of financing under sub-paragraph 2 (vi) of Article 11, the

Bank shall take such action as it deems appropriate. The Bank shall maintain

appropriate provisions against possible losses.

2. Losses arising in the Bank’s ordinary operations shall be charged

(i)

first, to the provisions referred to in paragraph 1 above;

(ii)

second, to net income;

(iii)

third, against reserves and retained earnings;

(iv)

fourth, against unimpaired paid-in capital; and

(v)

last, against an appropriate amount of the uncalled subscribed

callable capital which shall be called in accordance with the provisions of

paragraph 3 of Article 6.

CHAPTER V

GOVERNANCE

Article 21 Structure

The Bank shall have a Board of Governors, a Board of Directors, a President,

one or more Vice-Presidents, and such other officers and staff as may be

considered necessary.

Article 22 Board of Governors: Composition

1. Each member shall be represented on the Board of Governors and shall

appoint one Governor and one Alternate Governor. Each Governor and Alternate

Governor shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing member. No Alternate

Governor may vote except in the absence of his principal.

2. At each of its annual meetings, the Board shall elect one of the

Governors as Chairman who shall hold office until the election of the next

Chairman.

3. Governors and Alternate Governors shall serve as such without

remuneration from the Bank, but the Bank may pay them reasonable expenses

incurred in attending meetings.

Article 23 Board of Governors: Powers

1. All the powers of the Bank shall be vested in the Board of Governors.

2. The Board of Governors may delegate to the Board of Directors any or

all its powers, except the power to

(i)

admit new members and determine the conditions of their

admission;

(ii)

increase or decrease the authorized capital stock of the Bank;

(iii)

suspend a member;

(iv)

decide appeals from interpretations or applications of this

Agreement given by the Board of Directors;

(v)

elect the Directors of the Bank and determine the expenses to be

paid for Directors and Alternate Directors and remuneration, if any, pursuant

to paragraph 6 of Article 25;

(vi)

elect the President, suspend or remove him from office, and

determine his remuneration and other conditions of service;

(vii) approve, after reviewing the auditors’ report, the general

balance sheet and the statement of profit and loss of the Bank;

(viii) determine the reserves and the allocation and distribution of the

net profits of the Bank;

(ix)

amend this Agreement;

(x)

decide to terminate the operations of the Bank and to distribute

its assets; and

(xi)

exercise such other powers as are expressly assigned to the

Board of Governors in this Agreement.

3. The Board of Governors shall retain full power to exercise authority

over any matter delegated to the Board of Directors under paragraph 2 of this

Article.

Article 24 Board of Governors: Procedure

1. The Board of Governors shall hold an annual meeting and such other

meetings as may be provided for by the Board of Governors or called by the Board

of Directors. Meetings of the Board of Governors shall be called by the Board of

Directors whenever requested by five (5) members of the Bank.

2. A majority of the Governors shall constitute a quorum for any meeting

of the Board of Governors, provided such majority represents not less than two-

thirds of the total voting power of the members.

3. The Board of Governors shall by regulation establish procedures

whereby the Board of Directors may obtain a vote of the Governors on a specific

question without a meeting and provide for electronic meetings of the Board of

Governors in special circumstances.

4. The Board of Governors, and the Board of Directors to the extent

authorized, may establish such subsidiary entities, and adopt such rules and

regulations, as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the

Bank.

Article 25 Board of Directors: Composition

1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of twelve (12) members who

shall not be members of the Board of Governors, and of whom

(i)

nine (9) shall be elected by the Governors representing regional

members; and

(ii)

three (3) shall be elected by the Governors representing non-

regional members.

Directors shall be persons of high competence in economic and financial

matters and shall be elected in accordance with Schedule B. Directors shall

represent members whose Governors have elected them as well as members whose

Governors assign their votes to them.

2. The Board of Governors shall, from time to time, review the size and

composition of the Board of Directors, and may increase or decrease the size or

revise the composition as appropriate, by a Super Majority vote as provided in

Article 28.

3. Each Director shall appoint an Alternate Director with full power to act

for him when he is not present. The Board of Governors shall adopt rules enabling

a Director elected by more than a specified number of members to appoint an

additional Alternate Director.

4. Directors and Alternate Directors shall be nationals of member

countries. No two or more Directors may be of the same nationality nor may any

two or more Alternate Directors be of the same nationality. Alternate Directors

may participate in meetings of the Board but may vote only when the Alternate

Director is acting in place of the Director.

5. Directors shall hold office for a term of two (2) years and may be re-

elected.

(a)

Directors shall continue in office until their successors shall

have been chosen and assumed office.

(b)

If the office of a Director becomes vacant more than one

hundred and eighty (180) days before the end of his term, a successor shall be

chosen in accordance with Schedule B, for the remainder of the term, by the

Governors who elected the former Director. A majority of the votes cast by

such Governors shall be required for such election. The Governors who

elected a Director may similarly choose a successor if the office of a Director

becomes vacant one hundred and eighty (180) days or less before the end of

his term.

(c)

While the office of a Director remains vacant, an Alternate

Director of the former Director shall exercise the powers of the latter, except

that of appointing an Alternate Director.

6. Directors and Alternate Directors shall serve without remuneration from

the Bank, unless the Board of Governors shall decide otherwise, but the Bank may

pay them reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings.

Article 26 Board of Directors: Powers

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the direction of the general

operations of the Bank and, for this purpose, shall, in addition to the powers

assigned to it expressly by this Agreement, exercise all the powers delegated to it

by the Board of Governors, and in particular

(i)

prepare the work of the Board of Governors;

(ii)

establish the policies of the Bank, and, by a majority

representing not less than three-fourths of the total voting power of the

members, take decisions on major operational and financial policies and on

delegation of authority to the President under Bank policies;

(iii)

take decisions concerning operations of the Bank under

paragraph 2 of Article 11, and, by a majority representing not less than three-

fourths of the total voting power of the members, decide on the delegation of

such authority to the President;

(iv)

supervise the management and the operation of the Bank on a

regular basis, and establish an oversight mechanism for that purpose, in line

with principles of transparency, openness, independence and accountability;

(v)

approve the strategy, annual plan and budget of the Bank;

(vi)

appoint such committees as deemed advisable; and

(vii) submit the audited accounts for each financial year for approval

of the Board of Governors.

Article 27 Board of Directors: Procedure

1. The Board of Directors shall meet as often as the business of the Bank

may require, periodically throughout the year. The Board of Directors shall

function on a non-residential basis except as otherwise decided by the Board of

Governors by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28. Meetings may be

called by the Chairman or whenever requested by three (3) Directors.

2. A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of

the Board of Directors, provided such majority represents not less than two-thirds

of the total voting power of the members.

3. The Board of Governors shall adopt Regulations under which, if there is

no Director of its nationality, a member may send a representative to attend,

without right to vote, any meeting of the Board of Directors when a matter

particularly affecting that member is under consideration.

4. The Board of Directors shall establish procedures whereby the Board

can hold an electronic meeting or vote on a matter without holding a meeting.

Article 28 Voting

1. The total voting power of each member shall consist of the sum of its

basic votes, share votes and, in the case of a Founding Member, its Founding

Member votes.

(i)

The basic votes of each member shall be the number of votes

that results from the equal distribution among all the members of twelve (12)

per cent of the aggregate sum of the basic votes, share votes and Founding

Member votes of all the members.

(ii)

The number of the share votes of each member shall be equal to

the number of shares of the capital stock of the Bank held by that member.

(iii)

Each Founding Member shall be allocated six hundred (600)

Founding Member votes.

In the event a member fails to pay any part of the amount due in respect of its

obligations in relation to paid-in shares under Article 6, the number of share votes

to be exercised by the member shall, as long as such failure continues, be reduced

proportionately, by the percentage which the amount due and unpaid represents of

the total par value of paid-in shares subscribed to by that member.

2. In voting in the Board of Governors, each Governor shall be entitled to

cast the votes of the member he represents.

(i)

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all

matters before the Board of Governors shall be decided by a majority of the

votes cast.

(ii)

A Super Majority vote of the Board of Governors shall require

an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Governors,

representing not less than three-fourths of the total voting power of the

members.

(iii)

A Special Majority vote of the Board of Governors shall require

an affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of Governors,

representing not less than a majority of the total voting power of the

members.

3. In voting in the Board of Directors, each Director shall be entitled to

cast the number of votes to which the Governors who elected him are entitled and

those to which any Governors who have assigned their votes to him, pursuant to

Schedule B, are entitled.

(i)

A Director entitled to cast the votes of more than one member

may cast the votes for those members separately.

(ii)

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all

matters before the Board of Directors shall be decided by a majority of the

votes cast.

Article 29 The President

1. The Board of Governors, through an open, transparent and merit-based

process, shall elect a president of the Bank by a Super Majority vote as provided in

Article 28. He shall be a national of a regional member country. The President,

while holding office, shall not be a Governor or a Director or an Alternate for

either.

2. The term of office of the President shall be five (5) years. He may be re-

elected once. The President may be suspended or removed from office when the

Board of Governors so decides by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28.

(a)

If the office of the President for any reason becomes vacant

during his term, the Board of Governors shall appoint an Acting President for

a temporary period or elect a new President, in accordance with paragraph 1

of this Article.

3. The President shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors but shall

have no vote, except a deciding vote in case of an equal division. He may

participate in meetings of the Board of Governors but shall not vote.

4. The President shall be the legal representative of the Bank. He shall be

chief of the staff of the Bank and shall conduct, under the direction of the Board of

Directors, the current business of the Bank.

Article 30 Officers and Staff of the Bank

1. One or more Vice-Presidents shall be appointed by the Board of

Directors on the recommendation of the President, on the basis of an open,

transparent and merit-based process. A Vice-President shall hold office for such

term, exercise such authority and perform such functions in the administration of

the Bank, as may be determined by the Board of Directors. In the absence or

incapacity of the President, a Vice-President shall exercise the authority and

perform the functions of the President.

2. The President shall be responsible for the organization, appointment and

dismissal of the officers and staff in accordance with regulations adopted by the

Board of Directors, with the exception of Vice-Presidents to the extent provided in

paragraph 1 above.

3. In appointing officers and staff and recommending Vice-Presidents, the

President shall, subject to the paramount importance of securing the highest

standards of efficiency and technical competence, pay due regard to the

recruitment of personnel on as wide a regional geographical basis as possible.

Article 31 The International Character of the Bank

1. The Bank shall not accept Special Funds, loans or assistance that may in

any way prejudice, limit, deflect or otherwise alter its purpose or functions.

2. The Bank, its President, officers and staff shall not interfere in the

political affairs of any member, nor shall they be influenced in their decisions by

the political character of the member concerned. Only economic considerations

shall be relevant to their decisions. Such considerations shall be weighed

impartially in order to achieve and carry out the purpose and functions of the Bank.

3. The President, officers and staff of the Bank, in the discharge of their

offices, owe their duty entirely to the Bank and to no other authority. Each member

of the Bank shall respect the international character of this duty and shall refrain

from all attempts to influence any of them in the discharge of their duties.

CHAPTER VI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 32 Offices of the Bank

1. The principal office of the Bank shall be located in Beijing, People’s

Republic of China.

2. The Bank may establish agencies or offices elsewhere.

Article 33 Channel of Communication; Depositories

1. Each member shall designate an appropriate official entity with which

the Bank may communicate in connection with any matter arising under this

Agreement.

2. Each member shall designate its central bank, or such other institution

as may be agreed upon with the Bank, as a depository with which the Bank may

keep its holdings of currency of that member as well as other assets of the Bank.

3. The Bank may hold its assets with such depositories as the Board of

Directors shall determine.

Article 34 Reports and Information

1. The working language of the Bank shall be English, and the Bank shall

rely on the English text of this Agreement for all decisions and for interpretations

under Article 54.

2. Members shall furnish the Bank with such information it may

reasonably request of them in order to facilitate the performance of its functions.

3. The Bank shall transmit to its members an annual report containing an

audited statement of its accounts and shall publish such report. It shall also

transmit quarterly to its members a summary statement of its financial position and

a profit and loss statement showing the results of its operations.

4. The Bank shall establish a policy on the disclosure of information in

order to promote transparency in its operations. The Bank may publish such

reports as it deems desirable in the carrying out of its purpose and functions.

Article 35 Cooperation with Members and International Organizations

1. The Bank shall work in close cooperation with all its members, and, in

such manner as it may deem appropriate within the terms of this Agreement, with

other international financial institutions, and international organizations concerned

with the economic development of the region or the Bank’s operational areas.

2. The Bank may enter into arrangements with such organizations for

purposes consistent with this Agreement, with the approval of the Board of

Directors.

Article 36 References

1. References in this Agreement to Article or Schedule refer to Articles

and Schedules of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified.

2. References in this Agreement to a specific gender shall be equally

applicable to any gender.

CHAPTER VII

WITHDRAWAL AND SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS

Article 37 Withdrawal of Membership

1. Any member may withdraw from the Bank at any time by delivering a

notice in writing to the Bank at its principal office.

2. Withdrawal by a member shall become effective, and its membership

shall cease, on the date specified in its notice but in no event less than six (6)

months after the date that notice has been received by the Bank. However, at any

time before the withdrawal becomes finally effective, the member may notify the

Bank in writing of the cancellation of its notice of intention to withdraw.

3. A withdrawing member shall remain liable for all direct and contingent

obligations to the Bank to which it was subject at the date of delivery of the

withdrawal notice. If the withdrawal becomes finally effective, the member shall

not incur any liability for obligations resulting from operations of the Bank

effected after the date on which the withdrawal notice was received by the Bank.

Article 38 Suspension of Membership

1. If a member fails to fulfill any of its obligations to the Bank, the Board

of Governors may suspend such member by a Super Majority vote as provided in

Article 28.

2. The member so suspended shall automatically cease to be a member one

(1) year from the date of its suspension, unless the Board of Governors decides by

a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28 to restore the member to good

standing.

3. While under suspension, a member shall not be entitled to exercise any

rights under this Agreement, except the right of withdrawal, but shall remain

subject to all its obligations.

Article 39 Settlement of Accounts

1. After the date on which a country ceases to be a member, it shall remain

liable for its direct obligations to the Bank and for its contingent liabilities to the

Bank so long as any part of the loans, guarantees, equity investments or other

forms of financing under paragraph 2 (vi) of Article 11 (hereinafter, other

financing) contracted before it ceased to be a member is outstanding, but it shall

not incur liabilities with respect to loans, guarantees, equity investments or other

financing entered into thereafter by the Bank nor share either in the income or the

expenses of the Bank.

2. At the time a country ceases to be a member, the Bank shall arrange for

the repurchase of such country's shares by the Bank as a part of the settlement of

accounts with such country in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 3 and

4 of this Article. For this purpose, the repurchase price of the shares shall be the

value shown by the books of the Bank on the date the country ceases to be a

member.

3. The payment for shares repurchased by the Bank under this Article shall

be governed by the following conditions

(i)

Any amount due to the country concerned for its shares shall be

withheld so long as that country, its central bank or any of its agencies,

instrumentalities or political subdivisions remains liable, as borrower,

guarantor or other contracting party with respect to equity investment or

other financing, to the Bank and such amount may, at the option of the Bank,

be applied on any such liability as it matures. No amount shall be withheld on

account of the contingent liability of the country for future calls on its

subscription for shares in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 6. In any

event, no amount due to a member for its shares shall be paid until six (6)

months after the date on which the country ceases to be a member.

(ii)

Payments for shares may be made from time to time, upon

surrender of the corresponding stock certificates by the country concerned, to

the extent by which the amount due as the repurchase price in accordance

with paragraph 2 of this Article exceeds the aggregate amount of liabilities,

on loans, guarantees, equity investments and other financing referred to in

sub-paragraph (i) of this paragraph, until the former member has received the

full repurchase price.

(iii)

Payments shall be made in such available currencies as the Bank

determines, taking into account its financial position.

(iv)

If losses are sustained by the Bank on any loans, guarantees,

equity investments or other financing which were outstanding on the date

when a country ceased to be a member and the amount of such losses exceeds

the amount of the reserve provided against losses on that date, the country

concerned shall repay, upon demand, the amount by which the repurchase

account when the repurchase price was determined. In addition, the former

member shall remain liable on any call for unpaid subscriptions in

accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 6, to the same extent that it would

have been required to respond if the impairment of capital had occurred and

the call had been made at the time the repurchase price of its shares was

determined.

4. If the Bank terminates its operations pursuant to Article 41 within six

(6) months of the date upon which any country ceases to be a member, all rights of

the country concerned shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of

Articles 41 to 43. Such country shall be considered as still a member for purposes

of such Articles but shall have no voting rights.

CHAPTER VIII

SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF OPERATIONS OF THE BANK

Article 40 Temporary Suspension of Operations

In an emergency, the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend operations

in respect of new loans, guarantees, equity investment and other forms of financing

under sub-paragraph 2 (vi) of Article 11, pending an opportunity for further

consideration and action by the Board of Governors.

Article 41 Termination of Operations

1. The Bank may terminate its operations by a resolution of the Board of

Governors approved by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28.

2. After such termination, the Bank shall forthwith cease all activities,

except those incident to the orderly realization, conservation and preservation of

its assets and settlement of its obligations.

Article 42 Liability of Members and Payments of Claims

1. In the event of termination of the operation of the Bank, the liability of

all members for uncalled subscriptions to the capital stock of the Bank and in

respect of the depreciation of their currencies shall continue until all claims of

creditors, including all contingent claims, shall have been discharged.

2. All creditors holding direct claims shall first be paid out of the assets of

the Bank and then out of payments to the Bank or unpaid or callable subscriptions.

Before making any payments to creditors holding direct claims, the Board of

Directors shall make such arrangements as are necessary, in its judgment, to ensure

a pro rata distribution among holders of direct and contingent claims.

Article 43 Distribution of Assets

1. No distribution of assets shall be made to members on account of their

subscriptions to the capital stock of the Bank until

(i)

all liabilities to creditors have been discharged or provided for;

and

(ii)

the Board of Governors has decided, by a Super Majority vote as

provided in Article 28, to make such distribution.

2. Any distribution of the assets of the Bank to the members shall be in

proportion to the capital stock held by each member and shall be effected at such

times and under such conditions as the Bank shall deem fair and equitable. The

shares of assets distributed need not be uniform as to type of asset. No member

shall be entitled to receive its share in such a distribution of assets until it has

settled all of its obligations to the Bank.

3. Any member receiving assets distributed pursuant to this Article shall

enjoy the same rights with respect to such assets as the Bank enjoyed prior to their

distribution.

CHAPTER IX

STATUS, IMMUNITIES, PRIVILEGES AND EXEMPTIONS

Article 44 Purposes of Chapter

1. To enable the Bank to fulfill its purpose and carry out the functions

entrusted to it, the status, immunities, privileges and exemptions set forth in this

Chapter shall be accorded to the Bank in the territory of each member.

2. Each member shall promptly take such action as is necessary to make

effective in its own territory the provisions set forth in this Chapter and shall

inform the Bank of the action which it has taken.

Article 45 Status of the Bank

The Bank shall possess full juridical personality and, in particular, the full

legal capacity

(i)

to contract;

(ii)

to acquire, and dispose of, immovable and movable property;

(iii)

to institute and respond to legal proceedings; and

(iv)

to take such other action as may be necessary or useful for its

purpose and activities.

Article 46 Immunity from Judicial Proceedings

1. The Bank shall enjoy immunity from every form of legal process,

except in cases arising out of or in connection with the exercise of its powers to

raise funds, through borrowings or other means, to guarantee obligations, or to buy

and sell or underwrite the sale of securities, in which cases actions may be brought

against the Bank only in a court of competent jurisdiction in the territory of a

country in which the Bank has an office, or has appointed an agent for the purpose

of accepting service or notice of process, or has issued or guaranteed securities.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, no action

shall be brought against the Bank by any member, or by any agency or

instrumentality of a member, or by any entity or person directly or indirectly acting

for or deriving claims from a member or from any agency or instrumentality of a

member. Members shall have recourse to such special procedures for the

settlement of controversies between the Bank and its members as may be

prescribed in this Agreement, in the by-laws and regulations of the Bank, or in the

contracts entered into with the Bank.

3. Property and assets of the Bank shall, wheresoever located and by

whomsoever held, be immune from all forms of seizure, attachment or execution

before the delivery of final judgment against the Bank.

Article 47 Immunity of Assets and Archives

1. Property and assets of the Bank, wheresoever located and by

whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, requisition, confiscation,

expropriation or any other form of taking or foreclosure by executive or legislative

action.

2. The archives of the Bank, and, in general, all documents belonging to it,

or held by it, shall be inviolable, wheresoever located and by whomsoever held.

Article 48 Freedom of Assets from Restrictions

To the extent necessary to carry out the purpose and functions of the Bank

effectively, and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, all property and assets

of the Bank shall be free from restrictions, regulations, controls and moratoria of

any nature.

Article 49 Privilege for Communications

Official communications of the Bank shall be accorded by each member the

same treatment that it accords to the official communications of any other member.

Article 50 Immunities and Privileges of Officers and Employees

All Governors, Directors, Alternates, the President, Vice-Presidents and

other officers and employees of the Bank, including experts and consultants

performing missions or services for the Bank

(i)

shall be immune from legal process with respect to acts

performed by them in their official capacity, except when the Bank waives

the immunity and shall enjoy inviolability of all their official papers,

documents and records;

(ii)

where they are not local citizens or nationals, shall be accorded

the same immunities from immigration restrictions, alien registration

requirements and national service obligations, and the same facilities as

regards exchange regulations, as are accorded by members to the

representatives, officials and employees of comparable rank of other

members; and

(iii)

shall be granted the same treatment in respect of travelling

facilities as is accorded by members to representatives, officials and

employees of comparable rank of other members.

Article 51 Exemption from Taxation

1. The Bank, its assets, property, income and its operations and

transactions pursuant to this Agreement, shall be exempt from all taxation and

from all customs duties. The Bank shall also be exempt from any obligation for the

payment, withholding or collection of any tax or duty.

2. No tax of any kind shall be levied on or in respect of salaries,

emoluments and expenses, as the case may be, paid by the Bank to Directors,

Alternate Directors, the President, Vice-Presidents and other officers or employees

of the Bank, including experts and consultants performing missions or services for

the Bank, except where a member deposits with its instrument of ratification,

acceptance, or approval a declaration that such member retains for itself and its

political subdivisions the right to tax salaries, and emoluments, as the case may be,

paid by the Bank to citizens or nationals of such member.

3. No tax of any kind shall be levied on any obligation or security issued

by the Bank, including any dividend or interest thereon, by whomsoever held

(i)

which discriminates against such obligation or security solely

because it is issued by the Bank; or

(ii)

if the sole jurisdictional basis for such taxation is the place or

currency in which it is issued, made payable or paid, or the location of any

office or place of business maintained by the Bank.

4. No tax of any kind shall be levied on any obligation or security

guaranteed by the Bank, including any dividend or interest thereon, by

whomsoever held

(i)

which discriminates against such obligation or security solely

because it is guaranteed by the Bank; or

(ii)

if the sole jurisdictional basis for such taxation is the location of

any office or place of business maintained by the Bank.

Article 52 Waivers

1. The Bank at its discretion may waive any of the privileges, immunities

and exemptions conferred under this Chapter in any case or instance, in such

manner and upon such conditions as it may determine to be appropriate in the best

interests of the Bank.

CHAPTER X

AMENDMENT, INTERPRETATION AND ARBITRATION

Article 53 Amendments

1. This Agreement may be amended only by a resolution of the Board of

Governors approved by a Super Majority vote as provided in Article 28.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, the

unanimous agreement of the Board of Governors shall be required for the approval

of any amendment modifying

(i)

the right to withdraw from the Bank;

(ii)

the limitations on liability provided in paragraphs 3 and 4 of

Article 7; and

(iii)

the rights pertaining to purchase of capital stock provided in

paragraph 3 of Article 5.

3. Any proposal to amend this Agreement, whether emanating from a

member or the Board of Directors, shall be communicated to the Chairman of the

Board of Governors, who shall bring the proposal before the Board of Governors.

When an amendment has been adopted, the Bank shall so certify in an official

communication addressed to all members. Amendments shall enter into force for

all members three (3) months after the date of the official communication unless

the Board of Governors specifies therein a different period.

Article 54 Interpretation

1. Any question of interpretation or application of the provisions of this

Agreement arising between any member and the Bank, or between two or more

members of the Bank, shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for decision. If

there is no Director of its nationality on that Board, a member particularly affected

by the question under consideration shall be entitled to direct representation in the

Board of Directors during such consideration; the representative of such member

shall, however, have no vote. Such right of representation shall be regulated by the

Board of Governors.

2. In any case where the Board of Directors has given a decision under

paragraph 1 of this Article, any member may require that the question be referred

to the Board of Governors, whose decision shall be final. Pending the decision of

the Board of Governors, the Bank may, so far as it deems necessary, act on the

basis of the decision of the Board of Directors.

Article 55 Arbitration

If a disagreement should arise between the Bank and a country which has

ceased to be a member, or between the Bank and any member after adoption of a

resolution to terminate the operations of the Bank, such disagreement shall be

submitted to arbitration by a tribunal of three arbitrators. One of the arbitrators

shall be appointed by the Bank, another by the country concerned, and the third,

unless the parties otherwise agree, by the President of the International Court of

Justice or such other authority as may have been prescribed by regulations adopted

by the Board of Governors. A majority vote of the arbitrators shall be sufficient to

reach a decision which shall be final and binding upon the parties. The third

arbitrator shall be empowered to settle all questions of procedure in any case where

the parties are in disagreement with respect thereto.

Article 56 Approval Deemed Given

Whenever the approval of any member is required before any act may be

done by the Bank except under paragraph 2 of Article 53, approval shall be

deemed to have been given unless the member presents an objection within such

reasonable period as the Bank may fix in notifying the member of the proposed

act.

CHAPTER XI

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 57 Signature and Deposit

1. This Agreement, deposited with the Government of the People’s

Republic of China (hereinafter called the “Depository”), shall remain open until

December 31, 2015 for signature by the Governments of countries whose names

are set forth in Schedule A.

2. The Depository shall send certified copies of this Agreement to all the

Signatories and other countries which become members of the Bank.

Article 58 Ratification, Acceptance or Approval

1. This Agreement shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval

by the Signatories. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be

deposited with the Depository not later than December 31, 2016, or if necessary,

until such later date as may be decided by the Board of Governors by a Special

Majority vote as provided in Article 28. The Depository shall duly notify the other

Signatories of each deposit and the date thereof.

2. A Signatory whose instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval is

deposited before the date on which this Agreement enters into force, shall become

a member of the Bank, on that date. Any other Signatory which complies with the

provisions of the preceding paragraph, shall become a member of the Bank on the

date on which its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval is deposited.

Article 59 Entry into Force

This Agreement shall enter into force when instruments of ratification,

acceptance or approval have been deposited by at least ten (10) Signatories whose

initial subscriptions, as set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement, in the aggregate

comprise not less than fifty (50) per cent of total of such subscriptions.

Article 60 Inaugural Meeting and Commencement of Operations

1. As soon as this Agreement enters into force, each member shall appoint

a Governor, and the Depository shall call the inaugural meeting of the Board of

Governors.

2. At its inaugural meeting, the Board of Governors

(i)

shall elect the President;

(ii)

shall elect the Directors of the Bank in accordance with

paragraph 1 of Article 25, provided that the Board of Governors may decide

to elect fewer Directors for an initial period shorter than two years in

consideration of the number of members and Signatories which have not yet

become members;

(iii)

shall make arrangements for the determination of the date on

which the Bank shall commence its operations; and

(iv)

shall make such other arrangements as necessary to prepare for

the commencement of the Bank’s operations.

3. The Bank shall notify its members of the date of the commencement of

its operations.

DONE at Beijing, People’s Republic of China on – [June/July] 2015, in a

single original deposited in the archives of the Depository, whose English, Chinese

and French texts are equally authentic.

8

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

0

Malaysia

1,095

109.5

Maldives

7.2

Mongolia

41.1

Myanmar

2,645

264.5

Nepal

80.9

New Zealand

4,615

461.5

Oman

2,592

259.2

Pakistan

10,341

1,034.1

Philippines

9,791

979.1

Qatar

6,044

604.4

Russia

65,362

6,536.2

Saudi Arabia

25,446

2,544.6

Singapore

2,500

250.0

Sri Lanka

2,690

269.0

Tajikistan

30.9

Thailand

14,275

1,427.5

Turkey

26,099

2,609.9

United Arab Emirates

11,857

1,185.7

Uzbekistan

2,198

219.8

Vietnam

6,633

663.3

Unallocated

16,150

1,615.0

TOTAL

750,000

75,000.0

PART B.

NON-REGIONAL MEMBERS

Austria

5,008

500.8

Brazil

31,810

3,181.0

Denmark

3,695

369.5

Egypt

6,505

650.5

Finland

3,103

310.3

France

33,756

3,375.6

Germany

44,842

4,484.2

Iceland

17.6

Italy

25,718

2,571.8

Luxembourg

7

Malta

13.6

Netherlands

10,313

1,031.3

Norway

5,506

550.6

Poland

8,318

831.8

Portugal

65.0

South Africa

5,905

590.5

Spain

17,615

1,761.5

Sweden

6,300

630.0

Switzerland

7,064

706.4

United Kingdom

30,547

3,054.7

Unallocated

2,336

233.6

TOTAL

250,000

25,000.0

GRAND TOTAL

1,000,000

100,000.0