AIIB approves 13 new applicants, expands membership to 70

Spokesperson of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Laurel Ostfield speaks to media at a press conference in Beijing, capial of China, March 23, 2017. The AIIB announced Thursday that its Board of Governors has adopted resolutions approving 13 applicants to join the bank, bringing the bank's total approved membership to 70. The approved applicants are five regional prospective members -- Afghanistan, Armenia, Fiji, China's Hong Kong and Timor Leste -- and eight non-regional prospective members, namely Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Hungary, Ireland, Peru, Sudan and Venezuela. (Xinhua/Li Xin)