Votes of confidence in Beijing

With the formal entry of the United Arab Emirates into the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding member, the number of founding members has increased to 34, and that of countries or regions that have applied to be founding members has exceeded 50.

In such a manner, countries across the world have cast their "votes of confidence" in Beijing.

The United Kingdom's announcement of its decision to apply to join the AIIB provoked the ire of the United States. However, following his visit to China only half a month later, US Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew said the US is prepared to welcome the China-led institution. Such a delicate change of attitude demonstrates that the AIIB can go beyond the previous geopolitical gap and bring both Eastern and Western countries together to work for regional and world development.