Bank president Takehiko Nakao, on his first visit to Australia in three years, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that it wants to ensure "high-quality" infrastructure is put in place that does not leave recipient nations facing long-term and growing debts.

Australia is a founding member of the development bank that was started in 1966 as a way of delivering loans and assistance to developing parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

In recent years it has faced increased competition, particularly from the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The United States has heavily supported the development bank since its creation and has expressed concern about nations joining the AIIB, including Australia.

Last year the development bank made almost $22 billion worth of loans and grants to projects across the region, with another $14 billion leveraged from the private sector.

Mr Nakao said the development bank was looking for "good projects", which used advanced technologies and also addressed environmental and social policy issues. Countries also had to have the ability to repay their loans.

"We cannot have too many white elephant projects," he said.

"That is our concern about the Chinese Belt and Road initiative in that regard. I think they're also starting to think more seriously about the debt issues of member countries.

"We want to see more quality. It's not to make China disadvantaged but it's important for countries that they have good infrastructure and advanced technologies."

There have been ongoing criticisms that some of the Belt and Road projects have tied recipient countries to low quality projects or ones with long ongoing repayment costs. There are also concerns China is using the huge program to increase its diplomatic standing in the region.

Since Mr Nakao took up the bank presidency, its lending has grown by almost 50 per cent.

While energy projects account for about a quarter of those funded, increasingly more money is going into education, water, public sector management and agriculture. It is also keen on supporting urban development and tourism projects as the region develops and its middle class swells.

The bank has set itself a goal of $80 billion in loans towards dealing with climate change by 2030.

Climate change issues have grown in importance, dominating the recent Pacific Islands Forum where Prime Minister Scott Morrison came under attack from nations demanding more action from Australia.

Mr Nakao said more assistance would be needed across the Pacific to deal with the vulnerability of many nations to natural disasters and climate change.

"We are hopeful that more financial resources can be allocated to the Pacific through discussions with our development partners. Australia's strong advocacy for the Pacific will be important to help mobilise these additional resources," he said.