ADB says will maintain standards when cooperating with AIIB

PUBLISHED ON MAY 2, 2015 6:08 PM

 0 3 0 0PRINTEMAIL

 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Saturday that it was ready to work with the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) so long as standards were met, while also announcing changes to boost its own lending capacity by billions of dollars. -- PHOTO:BLOOMBERG

BAKU (Reuters) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Saturday that it was ready to work with the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) so long as standards were met, while also announcing changes to boost its own lending capacity by billions of dollars.

China has said 57 countries have signed up to become founding members of the AIIB, but so far the United States has chosen to remain outside the bank, seen as a rival to the US-dominated World Bank.

Giving reasons for not joining, the United States has cited what it called a lack of transparency, doubts about lending and environmental safeguards, and concerns over Beijing's influence.

Japan, which has a lead role in the ADB, has also cited a lack of transparency at the Beijing-based AIIB for not joining by a March 31 deadline, but has said that it would be desirable for the ADB to work with the AIIB.