The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is supposed to be a platform for Sino-U.S. collaboration rather than a point of divergence. It therefore welcomes the American private sector to bid for its projects, Jin Liqun, president of AIIB, said at a seminar of Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council on April 24.

China attaches great importance to its collaboration with American enterprises, Jin added, which is why it maintains close contact with U.S. think tanks, financial institutions, businesses, law firms and consulting firms in the hope of finding win-win opportunities, he added.

The number of AIIB member countries reached 70 in March, and that number may jump to 85 by the end of this year, Jin said. He added that, as a startup institution, AIIB will not blindly pursue profit at the expense of lending countries.

Addressing doubt and speculation from outsiders about the organization's motives and capacity, Jin explained that AIIB, serving all its member countries, effectively supplements existing multilateral development banks, and will maintain high standards when it comes to financing, environmental protection and labor rights.