China's got talent: the 'financial diplomats' reshaping the country's role on global stage

In the run-up to launching its regional initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, China has taken pains to pledge that the bank will take a global approach to recruiting talent.

It will not insist on making political appointees or rely solely on Chinese experts, officials say. The statements, made to reassure its founding members, demonstrate China's newfound confidence in its command of global financial expertise.

More Chinese people now hold key positions at international financial institutions, thanks to the country's decade-long effort in nurturing so-called "financial diplomats".

Beijing has built up a group of bankers and economists with the relevant experience and credentials to manage multinational financial institutions. This fresh talent pool can be tapped on in its pursuit of its AIIB ambitions.

The talents are also helping China press its claims to a greater say in global institutions to match its increasing weight in the global economy - with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund already agreeing to recruit more Chinese.

Among the top guns is former Chinese finance vice-minister Jin Liqun , who is hotly tipped to be appointed AIIB's first president. Jin's current role is secretary general of the bank's multilateral interim secretariat.

The first mainland-born Chinese to gain a senior position at a global financial institution was Shengman Zhang, who was appointed the World Bank's executive director for China in 1994. He became its managing director in 1997 and served in this position until 2005.