Australia considers joining AIIB: treasurer

Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey said on Friday that Australia will consider joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a day after Britain applied to join the China-proposed bank as a founding member.

"This is something that will obviously be taken into account by the government over the next few weeks as we continue our dialogue with those people behind the bank."

Australia turned down the invitation by China to become one of the founding members of the AIIB, saying that Australia would like to see more transparency in the governance of the bank.

However Hockey told reporters in Sydney that AIIB governance has improved.

"Quite obviously China has improved the governance structure it is proposing for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank," Hockey said.