Norway wants to join Chinese-led Asian investment bank in move to increase Asia-Pacific ties

Norway says it intends to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as a prospective founding member to promote closer ties to the Asia-Pacific region.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende says the Scandinavian country is a major contributor to global development efforts and wants to be among the countries in "refining the structure and mission" of the bank.

Brende said Tuesday that the Chinese-led bank, which has attracted interest from dozens of governments despite U.S. objections, "highlights the increasing weight of ... new and emerging powers."

Relations between Norway and China have remained frozen since jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.

Officials at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing and China's Embassy in Oslo did not respond to requests for comment.