中國(guó)牽頭的亞洲基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施投資銀行(Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,簡(jiǎn)稱亞投行)給予5個(gè)成員國(guó)——包括2個(gè)大型成員國(guó)——額外的12個(gè)月時(shí)間來(lái)完成正式加入流程,此前它們錯(cuò)過(guò)了2016年12月31日的最后期限。
Brazil and South Africa were among the highest-profile countries to sign up to the multilateral lender, which was established by Beijing to make its mark in international finance and was opposed in its infancy by the US. Of the bank’s 57 inaugural members, Brazil was the only South American country while South Africa was one of only two in Africa.
巴西和南非當(dāng)初躋身于最高調(diào)地簽署加入這個(gè)多邊貸款機(jī)構(gòu)的國(guó)家之列。中國(guó)成立亞投行是為了在國(guó)際金融領(lǐng)域留下自己的印記,該行在創(chuàng)立初期遭到美國(guó)的反對(duì)。在該行的57個(gè)創(chuàng)始成員國(guó)中,巴西是唯一的南美國(guó)家,而南非是僅有的兩個(gè)非洲國(guó)家之一。
Both are also members of the so-called Brics club alongside Russia, India and China, which recently joined forces to form the Shanghai-based New Development Bank.
這兩國(guó)也與俄羅斯、印度和中國(guó)并稱金磚國(guó)家,這幾個(gè)國(guó)家共同成立了總部位于上海的新開(kāi)發(fā)銀行(New Development Bank)。
“AIIB matters are currently being processed,” a South African finance official told the Financial Times. “Our immediate focus has been on the New Development Bank.”
“亞投行事務(wù)目前正在處理,”一名南非金融官員告訴英國(guó)《金融時(shí)報(bào)》,“我們眼下的重點(diǎn)是新開(kāi)發(fā)銀行。”
Brazilian officials declined to comment on why they missed the deadline, which was stipulated in the AIIB’s articles of association.
巴西官員拒絕就為何錯(cuò)過(guò)亞投行章程中規(guī)定的最后期限置評(píng)。
Members can receive an extension if approved by a majority of the bank’s governors.
如果得到亞投行多數(shù)理事的批準(zhǔn),成員國(guó)可以獲得延期。
Under former president Dilma Rousseff, Brazil fell behind on payments to dozens of international organisations, blaming a lack of funds. Ms Rousseff’s impeachment last August may have led to further delays.
在前總統(tǒng)迪爾瑪•羅塞夫(Dilma Rousseff)治下,巴西以缺乏資金為由,拖欠其應(yīng)向幾十個(gè)國(guó)際機(jī)構(gòu)支付的款項(xiàng)。羅塞夫去年8月遭到彈劾,可能導(dǎo)致了進(jìn)一步的拖延。
“We extended the deadline because some members needed more time based on the different domestic processes they had to ratify,” an AIIB spokesperson said, adding that “everything is on track” for them to join by the end of this year.
“我們延長(zhǎng)了截至日期,因?yàn)橐恍┏蓡T國(guó)需要更多時(shí)間,取決于它們國(guó)內(nèi)的批準(zhǔn)流程,”一名亞投行發(fā)言人說(shuō),并補(bǔ)充稱,“一切都在正軌上”,這些國(guó)家可以在今年底前加入亞投行。
The three other inaugural AIIB members to have missed the deadline were Malaysia, Kuwait and Spain. Malaysian and Spanish officials said they would be formally admitted by the end of 2017. Kuwaiti officials could not be reached for comment.
另外3個(gè)錯(cuò)過(guò)最后期限的亞投行創(chuàng)始成員國(guó)是馬來(lái)西亞、科威特和西班牙。馬來(lái)西亞和西班牙官員表示它們將在2017年底前正式加入。記者無(wú)法聯(lián)系到科威特官員對(duì)此置評(píng)。
Last week the AIIB approved 13 new applicants including two additional countries from South America and two from Africa.
上周亞投行批準(zhǔn)了13個(gè)新申請(qǐng)加入的國(guó)家,包括另外2個(gè)南美國(guó)家和另外2個(gè)非洲國(guó)家。
Additional reporting by David Pilling, Joe Leahy, Tobias Buck and Jeevan Vasagar
戴維•皮林、李若瑟、托拜厄斯•巴克和吉萬(wàn)•瓦薩加爾補(bǔ)充報(bào)道