The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved 57 countries as founding members after including an extra seven, according to China’s Finance Ministry.

　　中国财政部消息，加上新加入的7个国家，由中国领导的亚洲基础设施投资银行(AIIB)已经批准了57个国家作为其创始成员国。

　　Sweden, Israel, South Africa, Azerbaijan, Iceland, Portugal and Poland were all included as founding members, according to a statement released by the ministry on Wednesday. The ministry added that although the March 31 deadline for founding membership application has passed, the bank will continue to accept new members. China has rejected requests from North Korea and Taiwan to join the investment bank.

　　周三发布的财政部声明指出，瑞典、以色列、南非、阿塞拜疆、冰岛、葡萄牙和波兰被纳入创始成员国。财政部还表示，尽管已经过了创始成员的最后申请期限3月31日，亚投行还会继续吸收新成员。朝鲜和台湾申请加入该行，已被中国拒绝。

　　The AIIB is an “open and inclusive multilateral development bank,” China's Vice Finance Minister Shi Yaobin was cited as saying by Xinhua news agency. The 57 founding members cover five continents, including Asia, Oceania, Europe, Latin America and Africa, according to Shi. The founding members will have priority over other countries which might sign up later, as they possess the right to establish the rules for the bank.

　　新华社援引财政部副部长史耀斌的话指出，“亚投行是开放、包容的多边开发银行”。他还指出，亚投行的57个创始成员国来自欧、亚、非、大洋及拉丁美洲等5个大洲。这些国家和日后可能加入的国家相比，优势在于有权制定亚投行的政策。

　　Russia became a founder of the AIIB after applying for membership two weeks ago. Joining the bank means Russian companies will be able to take part in infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific region as well get access to foreign investment in Russia.

　　2周前，俄罗斯申请加入亚投行并被批准。这意味着俄罗斯公司将能够参与亚太地区的基础设施建设，也能将外资吸引到俄罗斯去。

　　The US and Japan are the two major countries that have abstained from joining the AIIB. While the US has been pressing its allies not to join the institution which is expected to challenge the Washington-based World Bank, Japan hesitated over its relations with Washington and the AIIB's potential rivalry with the Asian Development Bank. Earlier this month, Washington reportedly questioned Japan following the rumors of its possible participation but Tokyo has denied everything.

　　美国和日本是2个拒绝加入亚投行的主要国家。美国向盟友们施压不要加入亚投行，因为这回威胁到总部位于华盛顿的世界银行。由于亚投行和亚洲发展银行之间可能存在的竞争，以及对日美关系的考量，日本的立场犹豫不定。本月初，有报道称华盛顿在日本可能加入的传言后质问过日本，但东京否定了加入亚投行的可能。

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