"The AIIB has the necessary conditions to become a mainstay within the international system of development banks. It can make a significant contribution to addressing Asia's enormous infrastructure needs and to fostering sustainable development and thereby helping to fight poverty," Antje Baertschi said.
In March, Switzerland, following the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, applied to join the AIIB, an institution still awaiting its formal inauguration of operations. In June, Bern officially became a member of the financial institution.
Last week, Switzerland's Federal Council launched public consultations on the country's membership in the organization.
"The Articles of Agreement [for Switzerland to join the AIIB] have been signed by Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann in Beijing on 29 June 2015. They can now be ratified until end of 2016," she added.
In late June, Switzerland became an official member of the AIIB, just thee month after it had applied for membership. Last week, Switzerland's Federal Council launched public consultations to cement the country's membership with the yet-to-be formally constituted financial organization.
"Switzerland's participation will… strengthen its relationship with China and the Asian region, offering Swiss companies new opportunities to develop their business relations in this region," Antje Baertschi said.
Switzerland pays strong attention to applying best practices and standards in governance, management and operations, the Swiss official stressed.
The AIIB, proposed by China, was created in 2014 to invest in infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Twenty-one countries initially signed the bill. Currently, there are 57 prospective founding members.
