Citi has appointed Beibei Li as head of banking and origination for Belt and Road, effective September 1. In this newly created role, Li will oversee Citi's banking focus around China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Li will be based in Hong Kong and reports to Gerry Keefe, Citi's head of corporate banking Asia Pacific.

"The BRI is a strategic imperative for all of our major corporate, public sector, financial institution and GSG clients operating along the Belt and Road – both global and local names. Our global network, local expertise, and product capabilities in 60 of the 70 BRI countries, uniquely positions us as the banking partner for these clients. As such we have created a new leadership position to help align the firm's strategic priorities, connect product and coverage partners, and drive further business opportunities across the BRI economic corridors," says Keefe.

Li joined Citi in 1999 as a CIB management associate in China, and subsequently held roles as a founding member for consumer banking in China in product & market management and as senior relationship manager for the Asia Pacific Office in the US, before taking her current role in 2012.

In 2018, increased trade, in part along the Belt and Road where Citi does business in 60 of the 70 markets, has underpinned record results for the bank. Citi Asia Pacific saw a record start to 2018 with revenues up 18% year-on-year in the first quarter to $4.13 billion and net income up 48% year-on-year at $1.12 billion.