(Yicai Global) Oct.16 -- Afghanistan has obtained permanent membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the country's finance ministry reported on its website yesterday, state-run Xinhua Net reported.

Afghan Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi received the Certificate of Permanent Membership in the AIIB on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting earlier this week in Washington, DC in the US, the ministry stated.

Hakimi also discussed various topics with AIIB President Jin Liqun, including Afghanistan's membership in the bank, financial and technical facilities for Afghan solar energy, railroad connectivity among five countries (Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran and China) and infrastructure financing projects, the statement noted. 

"Afghanistan's membership in the bank is very important and paves the way for the implementation of major national projects," the statement recited.