BEIJING- Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) said on Monday it would lend 70 million euros ($83.37 million) to Turkey to help the country deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project will be co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and aims to increase public hospital infrastructure capacity, according to a statement by the AIIB.

The loan is part of AIIB's $13 billion funding facility to help public and private sectors fight the pandemic. The bank has previously approved loans totalling $500 million to two development banks in Turkey through the facility.

($1 = 0.8396 euros)

(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley; Editing by Kim Coghill) ((Gabriel.Crossley@thomsonreuters.com; +86 10 5669 2127;))