BEIJING – An executive from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing revealed on Thursday that he was advised to leave the country after resigning from the bank due to his concerns over Chinese Communist Party influence. Bob Pickard, a former global communications chief for the AIIB, made this announcement through a strongly worded social media post on Wednesday. Shortly after, the Canadian government declared a halt in ties with the bank until the allegations were investigated. AIIB, created by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 to serve as an alternative to Western-led lending institutions like the World Bank, boasts 106 member countries, including Canada, and claims to be a politically impartial lender. In a phone interview with Reuters, Pickard stated, “I left as soon as I could and sought refuge in Japan after submitting my resignation earlier this week. Given the situation where the Chinese government kidnapped two Canadians, we are naturally more cautious about such matters.” However, Pickard did not disclose who advised him to leave. The Chinese embassy in Canada dismissed Pickard’s statements as “false information” on Wednesday. China’s foreign ministry maintained on Thursday that the AIIB follows “the principles of openness, meritocracy, and transparency” when it comes to its recruitment and management of employees. The AIIB confirmed Pickard’s resignation and labeled his remarks as “unfounded and disappointing.” Requests for further comments were not responded to by the bank. The Canadian embassy in China also refrained from commenting immediately. Pickard stated that he believed the bank did not serve the interests of Canada. “I felt that the influence of Communist Party members hindered our ability to communicate clearly and transparently,” Pickard said, refraining from citing specific instances due to confidentiality agreements. “I don’t believe that the taxpayers of my country should finance an organization that ultimately benefits China more than Canada.” Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the suspension of ties while an investigation was underway and did not rule out the possibility of Canada withdrawing from the bank since joining in March 2018. Pickard, a seasoned public relations professional, joined the AIIB in March 2022 according to his LinkedIn profile. Earlier this year, the bank’s president assured that the institution would not be dragged into political disputes.
Denial of responsibility! SamacharCentrl is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Omprakash Tiwary is a business writer who delves into the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and economic landscape. He offers readers valuable insights into market trends, entrepreneurship, and economic developments.
