(Yicai Global) Jan. 8 -- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank may issue a dollar-denominated bond for the first time by the end of June this year, worth at least USD1 billion.

Issuance at the end of the first half of this year allows the AIIB room to complete required processes such as the approval of the bank's 2017 financial statements, state-run Xinhua News Agency cited AIIB Treasurer Sonde Elbech as saying in a press briefing on Jan. 6.

The AIIB could issue a larger-scale bond due to strong demand among investors, with a term of three to five years, he added. The AAA-rated institution plans to limit total lending in 2018 to USD3 billion.

Established in 2015, the AIIB opened for business in January last year with 57 founding members. It has expanded in four rounds of additions. The US and Japan have not yet joined.