At least 47 countries and territories had applied to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank when the deadline to request Prospective Founding Member status passed on Tuesday, South China Morning Post reported, citing China foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. Hua said 30 countries had already been approved as prospective founding members, the exact number of which would be confirmed on April 15. An influx of applicants — many of them US allies — followed the surprise announcement from Britain in mid-March that it intended to join, with Taiwan and Norway among the final few to do so before the deadline.
Categories