The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB, a multilateral financial institution initiated by China, will lend in US dollars, its inaugural president JinLijun said on Sunday, adding that the first loan is estimated to be issued in mid-2016.

The Chinese banker explained that considering the current global financial system, the adoption of the dollar will help the multi-lateral institution operate better.

The bank, which formally opens for business on Jan. 16, will also raise capital in euro, yuan, and other currencies to benefit the borrowing countries, according to Jin.

English will be confirmed as its official working language, he added.

As the inaugural president of AIIB, Jin vowed to build the bank into a professional, highly-efficient and balanced platform during his five-year-tenure by prioritizing the governance mechanism.

“Building a culture of cooperation far outweighs how much it lends,” he explained.

Jin also pledged that the bank will maximize every cent to support infrastructure projects of its members. An oversight department will also be set up to regulate and supervise the use of funds, he added.

For the sake of the bank’s improved development, China, as the initiator, has vowed to contribute an additional $50 million earmarked for infrastructure projects in less-developed countries.