加拿大正式申請加入亞投行 或成首個北美成員

Canada has decided to apply for membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced at a press conference in Beijing.

加拿大財政部長比爾·莫諾日前在北京召開的一次新聞發佈會上表示，加拿大決定申請加入亞洲基礎設施投資銀行(亞投行)。

If Canada joins the AIIB, it will be the first North American member of the multilateral bank.

如果加拿大最終加入亞投行，將成爲該多邊銀行的首個北美洲成員國。

Canada's membership will contribute significantly to the bank's development, AIIB president Jin Liqun told the press conference, noting that all countries interested in the AIIB were welcome to apply for membership.

亞投行行長金立羣在新聞發佈會上表示，加拿大的成員身份將極大地有助於該行的發展，並指出歡迎所有有興趣加入亞投行的國家申請成員國。

"Canada has a remarkable track record of multilateral engagement, and I believe it will contribute significantly to the development of this bank," said Jin.

金立羣表示：“加拿大在處理多邊議題中經驗豐富，相信加拿大將對亞投行的發展作出巨大貢獻。”

In a press release, Canada's Department of Finance said the AIIB will help sustain growth in Asia and represents an opportunity for Canada to further engage in multilateral infrastructure.

在發佈會上，加拿大財政部長表示，亞投行將有助於維持亞洲的經濟增長，併爲加拿大更深入參與全球多邊基礎設施開發提供機會。

"Canada is always looking for ways to create hope and opportunity for our middle class as well as for people around the world, and membership in the AIIB is an opportunity to do just that," Morneau said.

莫諾部長說道：“加拿大一直在爲全球民衆、爲中產階級創造希望、尋找機會，而加入亞投行就是一個這樣的機會。”

Jin also revealed that, including its 57 founding members, the AIIB will have more than 90 members by the end of the year.

此外，金立羣行長還透露，到今年年底，包括57個創始成員國在內，亞投行成員國將超過90個。