The bank was recently launched by China with 57 foundation member countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Beijing hopes it will become a global institution to rival the World Bank.
Washington has balked at its creation, and one of its main objections has been a concern that it would seek to undermine the authority of the World Bank, which was established by the United States at the end of World War II.
But the head of the World Bank's Pacific division, Michel Kerf, said having another development partner in the region would be a positive thing.
