今日のテキスト EUROPEAN NATIONS JOIN CHINA-LED BANK

Three more European countries say they are on board with a new development bank proposed by China. Officials in France, Germany and Italy have given a joint statement saying they intend to become founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Twenty-eight countries have already announced their intention to participate. They include Southeast Asian nations, India and New Zealand. Until the latest announcement, Britain was the only G7 member.
The officials in the three European nations say the new bank could work with other existing institutions to play an important role for addressing funding needs for large infrastructure projects in Asia. Observers say those countries plus Britain are keen to build closer ties with the world's second-largest economy.
Officials at China's Finance Ministry say they welcome the announcement from the Europeans. Beijing hopes to open the bank by the year-end.
Japan and the United States are skeptical about the new development bank. They question the transparency of its management.