France and Germany along with Italy to join China-led AIIB

The finance ministries of France and Germany have confirmed they'll join China's new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and Italy is expected to soon. Joining the rival to the US-led World Bank is seen as a setback for the Obama administration.

"The Ministry of Finance confirmed that France would join the AIIB bank," French daily reported Tuesday.

Germany's finance ministry said it was joining the bank, the says, although Italy has yet to confirm the earlier report by the (FT).

The decision comes after Britain last week became the first Western country to agree to become a founding member of the AIIB, reports. The UK government said the decision was in the country's national interest, but it got a negative reaction from the United States.

The new China-led bank is expected to challenge the Washington-based World Bank, so the US is increasing pressure on its allies not to join the institution. The US' concern is that the new investment bank might not have high standards of governance and environmental and social safeguards.

The new bank is expected to challenge the Western dominance of the US-led World Bank and IMF in global infrastructure projects, which experts believe will create healthy competition.

The US is concerned the new investment bank will have high standards of governance and environmental and social safeguards. The new bank is expected to challenge the Western dominance of the US-led World Bank and IMF in global infrastructure projects.

"Our messaging to the Chinese consistently has been to welcome investment in infrastructure but to seek unmistakable evidence that this bank... takes as its starting point the high watermark of what other multilateral development banks have done in terms of governance," US Regional Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said in Seoul, the reports.

Meanwhile, Chinese officials say the AIIB's operation and governance will be open, transparent, inclusive and responsible.

"It will draw experience from other multilateral development banks and avoid their detours so as to be more cost-effective and efficient," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was cited as saying by news agency. He also added that the bank "will complement existing multilateral development banks and support the infrastructure and economic development in Asia."

South Korea, Switzerland and Luxembourg were also considering joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the reported.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he would make a final decision on AIIB membership soon. South Korea and other countries are in discussions with China over possible participation.

China's main regional rival Japan said earlier this month that Asian countries including Japan have until March 31 to decide on becoming AIIB founding members.

"They told us they are considering. Whether Japan will join, we do not know. It is Japan's own decision," Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said, according to the news agency.

Nearly 30 countries have confirmed their participation in the AIIB, which is aimed at helping finance infrastructure projects across Asia and is expected to come into being this year.

The AIIB was formally launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014, and is expected to become a tool of a broader Chinese push for growing international power and economic significance.