Canada has decided¹ to apply for membership of the Asian Infrastructure² Investment Bank (AIIB), Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced at a press conference in Beijing.

加拿大财政部长比尔·莫诺日前在北京召开的一次新闻发布会上表示，加拿大决定申请加入亚洲基础设施投资银行(亚投行)。

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

如果加拿大最终加入亚投行，将成为该多边银行的首个北美洲成员国。

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.

亚投行行长金立群在新闻发布会上表示，加拿大的成员身份将极大地有助于该行的发展，并指出欢迎所有有兴趣加入亚投行的国家申请成员国。

"Canada has a remarkable³ track record of multilateral engagement, and I believe it will contribute significantly to the development of this bank," said Jin.

金立群表示：“加拿大在处理多边议题中经验丰富，相信加拿大将对亚投行的发展作出巨大贡献。”

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.

在发布会上，加拿大财政部长表示，亚投行将有助于维持亚洲的经济增长，并为加拿大更深入参与全球多边基础设施开发提供机会。

"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.

莫诺部长说道：“加拿大一直在为全球民众、为中产阶级创造希望、寻找机会，而加入亚投行就是一个这样的机会。”

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，金立群行长还透露，到今年年底，包括57个创始成员国在内，亚投行成员国将超过90个。