The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced that it approved four new members to join — the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Belarus and Ecuador — China Daily reported Dec. 19. The four countries will officially join once they meet a number of domestic requirements and deposit an initial installment. Since the AIIB's launch in January 2016, its membership has increased from 57 to 84 countries in Asia and across the world. The bank is headquartered in Beijing.