China Premier Indicates AIIB Would Welcome Japan's Participation

Beijing, April 14 (Jiji Press)--The China-advocated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank would welcome Japan's participation, even after applications to become its founding members have been closed, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang indicated Tuesday. The AIIB initiative is open to participation, and countries joining later would not be kept from having a say, Li said at a meeting in Beijing with Yohei Kono, head of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade and former speaker of Japan's House of Representatives. It was the first time for a Chinese leader to comment on Japan's possible participation in the AIIB. Li also expressed his willingness to learn from the Asian Development Bank, which is led by Japan and the United States. The two countries refrained from bidding to join the China-led infrastructure bank due to concerns about its transparency. END