This is even the case in the United States, which also declined to apply, although Jacob J. Lew, secretary of the treasury paid a last-minute visit to Beijing before March 31, the deadline for applications. And former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright has recently said Washington's decision to not seek membership in the AIIB "miscalculated."

Di Rupo ruled out the possibility that his country is cautious about Beijing's role in reforming the global financial architecture.

Some Belgians say it was because the federal government found it difficult to coordinate the three regional governments in a timely manner. Others say the country's decision was simply because it is short of the financial means to join. While it is believable that Greece might lack money to apply, it is not believable of Belgium. When Belgian banks, among other European banks, were required to increase their saving ratios at the deepest point in the European sovereign debt crisis in 2011, Belgians responded in the swiftest manner.

My guess is, Belgium's decision resulted from untimely communication among the parties, which lead me to think of the inefficiency in decision-making in the Western countries.

Take their responses to the financial crisis, for example. The long-standing debates among the various parties on what action to take meant they missed the windows of opportunity to effectively contain the crisis. Now, Europe is still in economic stagnation.

Recently, I have been asking European politicians how the political system in Europe can be changed to improve the decision-making process and avoid political instability, in reply they shrug their shoulders and shake their heads, and say: "This is Europe."

The author is China Daily chief correspondent in Brussels.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn