Mainland welcomes Taiwan joining AIIB with proper identity

BEIJING - The mainland welcomes Taiwan joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with an appropriate identity, the Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs authority said Monday.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the AIIB is an international multilateral development institution featuring openness and inclusion.

He confirmed the report by Hong Kong-based China Review News saying Taiwan could join the AIIB despite failing to become a founding member.

The mainland will consider opinions from all sides so that to properly address the issue of Taiwan's membership in AIIB, he said.

"The related organs will consider Taiwan's membership when making the constitution for AIIB," Ma said.

Taiwan's finance and mainland affairs authorities issued a statement announcing the island's letter of intent for AIIB membership on the last day of March, the deadline for such applications as AIIB's founding members.