Speakers:
Huang Hong, vice chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC);
Cao Yu, vice chairman of the CBIRC;
Xiao Yuanqi, chief risk officer and spokesperson of the CBIRC.
Chairperson:
Xi Yanchun, spokesperson of the State Council Information Office of China
Date:
April 22, 2020
Xi Yanchun:
Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we have invited Huang Hong, vice chairman of the CBIRC, Cao Yu, vice chairman of the CBIRC and Xiao Yuanqi, chief risk officer and spokesperson of the CBIRC. They will brief you about the operations and performance of the banking and insurance sectors in the first quarter. They will also answer your questions.
First, I will give the floor to Mr. Huang.
Huang Hong:
Friends from the media, good morning. First, I will brief you on the prevention and control of the pandemic situation within banking and insurance institutions. As of yesterday, a total of 1,065 people in banking and insurance institutions nationwide had a confirmed COVID-19 infection, including 933 people in Hubei province, and a total of 1016 people have recovered, including 887 in Hubei. 42 people have died, including 41 in Hubei. Some family members of employees of banking and insurance institutions have died from COVID-19. We mourn the loss of them and we will work harder and provide better service to the public to commemorate their death. Currently, seven employees of the banking and insurance institutions are still being treated in the hospital and 8 people are asymptomatic cases, including six in Hubei. One of them has recovered. Up to now, except for Hubei, the resumption rate of banking and insurance institutions across the country is at about 97%, and the resumption rate of banking and insurance branches has reached 99%. More than 60% of banking and insurance institutions, and 90% of banking and insurance branches in Hubei, have resumed work. The resumption rate of banking and insurance institutions and branches in Wuhan have steadily increased, and basic financial services are guaranteed.
Currently, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the progress in prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic in China has been further enhanced, and economic and social operations have gradually returned to normal. The CBIRC has resolutely implemented the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. In accordance with the requirements of "maintaining stability in six key areas, namely with respect to employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and expectation" and "ensuring the employment of residents, the basic livelihood of the people, the support for market entities, the security of food and energy, the stability of the supply chain and industrial chain and the operation at grassroots level," we have successively issued many policies and measures to increase financial support for pandemic prevention and control as well as economic and social development. We have been working to facilitate the resumption of work, production, business and the market. We have focused on preventing and defusing financial risks while also ensuring the stable operation of the banking and insurance sector.
First, all-out efforts have been made to provide financial services for pandemic prevention and control. By reducing the deposit reserve ratio, relending and rediscounting, banking institutions have effectively reached out to enterprises that manufacture and transport important medical supplies and daily necessities, providing preferential interest rates and special credit quotas for them. Insurance institutions have set up fast tracks for customers who have been affected by the epidemic to settle claims, appropriately expand the scope of insurance compensation liability and strive to provide insurance for all the insurable and settle the claims that should be settled.
Second, we will provide liquidity support for enterprises in a timely manner and help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) surmount their difficulties. We have increased support for SMEs in terms of credit: inclusive loans for SMEs have increased by 25.93% year-on-year at the end of the first quarter; the interest rates of the inclusive loans issued by the five large banks is 4.3%, 0.3% down the level of 2019. We have also increased credit loans. In the first quarter, credit loans issued to enterprises and individual business owners increased by 2.5 trillion yuan, with the increment almost twice the level of the same period last year. We have optimized loan renewal arrangements, expanded the scale of renewal and helped ease pressure on cash flow among enterprises. In the first quarter, a total of 576.8 billion-yuan loans were renewed, of which nearly 90% went to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and individual business owners. Business are allowed to defer principal and interest payments, and we have deferred the payments on about 880 billion yuan worth of loans. There are also flexible arrangements for paying mortgage loans and consumption loans, which effectively reduce the pressure on enterprises and residents.
Third, we are looking to maintain the stability of industrial chains and supply chains, as well as support all links in industrial chains to help them resume work and production in a coordinated way. We are taking significant steps to develop supply chain finance, and we have taken the initiative to connect with core enterprises of the industrial chain. Financing support is also being provided for upstream and downstream enterprises of the industrial chain to ensure the smooth flow of funds by means of receivables, orders and warehouse receipt pledges. By the end of the first quarter, banks provided capital turnover to 218,000 core enterprises of the industrial chain, with a balance of 21.4 trillion yuan. Banks also provided financing support to 297,000 upstream enterprises, with a balance of 5.8 trillion yuan. And banks provided financing support to 353,000 downstream enterprises, with a balance of 9.3 trillion yuan.
Fourth, we want to increase financial support for the real economy and promote the expansion of domestic demand. In the first quarter, new yuan-denominated loans hit 7.1 trillion yuan, an increase of 1.3 trillion yuan year-on-year. The new loans were mainly invested in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail and infrastructure sectors, with increased lending in these sectors of 1.1 trillion yuan, 0.9 trillion yuan, 1.5 trillion yuan, respectively, which has effectively supported the development of high-tech manufacturing, the upgrading of traditional industries, household and public consumption and investment in infrastructure. We support direct financing, such as bonds and equity, and provide comprehensive financing services for enterprises. In the first quarter, banks and insurance institutions increased bond investment by 2 trillion yuan, of which more than 360 billion yuan was invested in corporate credit bonds. An additional 126.3 billion yuan of equity investments was invested in insurance.
Fifth, we are seeking to guarantee the functions of the insurance sector. We will actively expand the scope of claims, increase speed and improve the efficiency of claim settlement. Insurance claims in the first quarter totaled 301.9 billion yuan. We will actively deal with social risk protection needs during the pandemic and develop and promote security insurance products, such as health insurance. The health insurance business grew by 21.5% year-on-year. We gave full play to the role of credit guarantee insurance in sharing credit losses. In the first quarter, the payment of credit guarantee insurance was 16.1 billion yuan, which was up 50% year-on-year.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on China's economic and social development. Loan delinquencies and defaults increased, and non-performing loans increased as a result of the pandemic. The banking industry still maintains a strong ability to withstand risks, and various regulatory indicators are operating at a high level.
Next, CBIRC will earnestly implement requirements for handling trade frictions and keeping employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign and domestic investments and expectations stable, as well as ensuring the employment of residents, the basic livelihood of the people, the support for market entities, the security of food and energy, the stability of the supply chain and industrial chain, and the operation at grassroots level. We will work in a coordinated manner to provide financial support for the prevention and control of the pandemic and to serve the real economy and stave off risks. We will work hard to maintain economic development and social stability, and we will provide strong financial support to win the battle against poverty and for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
Thank you！
Xi Yanchun:
Thank you, Mr. Huang. Let's move on to the question and answer section. Please inform us of your news organization before asking questions.
CCTV:
A series of financial support policies for the resumption of production have been issued by CBIRC and other related departments since the outbreak of COVID-19. However, some enterprises said they have not yet felt or seen the effects of these policies. How about the implementation of these policies? What are the concrete plans to accelerate the implementation of the policies in the near future? Thank you.
Huang Hong:
Thank you for your questions. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the CBIRC has earnestly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and it has also made overall plans for the prevention and control of the pandemic and the financial services related to economic and social development. A series of measures to support the resumption of work and production has been issued by CBIRC or other related ministries, which can be summarized as follows:
First, we will optimize financial services in the field of pandemic prevention and control. Financial institutions are required to actively meet reasonable financing needs of health and pandemic prevention, pharmaceutical product manufacturing and procurement, public health infrastructure construction, and scientific research. We encourage financial institutions to help enterprises overcome the impact of the pandemic by appropriately lowering loan interest rates, improving policies on loan renewal, and increasing credit loans, along with medium- and long-term loans. According to statistics from the China Banking Association, bank institutions alone have provided more than 2.5 trillion yuan in credit to help fight the pandemic.
Second, a provisional deferment policy for both principal repayment and interest payment has been implemented for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. In accordance with market principles and law, loan principal repayments that have matured since January 25, as well as interest payments, have been deferred provisionally for virus-stricken micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, with penalty payments exempted; their loan risk classification and credit records will not be affected. As of the end of March, banking institutions had deferred principle and interest payments on nearly 880 billion yuan (US$125.7 billion) of loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Third, all links in the industrial chains have been pushed to resume work and production in a coordinated way. Banks have been encouraged to follow up and meet upstream and downstream enterprises' needs for work and production resumption and support them to raise funds through approaches including receivables, warehouse receipts and inventory pledges. The core businesses, after getting financing, have been encouraged to promote cash transactions between upstream and downstream companies as a way to reduce capital pressure and financial costs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Fourth, we have continuously improved quality and efficiency of inclusive financial services for small and micro enterprises. In the light of the overall goal of "increasing quantity, expanding coverage, improving quality and reducing costs," we have strengthened supervision of classified assessment, and urged banking institutions to stabilize credit supply and enhance the financial support to small and micro enterprises. By the end of March, the inclusive small and minor businesses loans stood at 12.55 trillion yuan (US$1.79 trillion), with a 25.93% jump year-on-year, which is much higher than the increases for other types of loans.
Generally speaking, these policies have been implemented quite smoothly, and produced initial effects. However, we still found some problems in the following four aspects. First, some enterprises are not eligible to apply for loans; second, some cannot enjoy the policy support due to factors such as a third party's guaranteed renewal; third, there are some firms that did not apply because they were not aware of the specifics of these policies; fourth, some banking and insurance institutions have been negligent and failed to offer desirable services — responsibility for this final factor lies squarely on our shoulder. As a result of the above-mentioned problems, some enterprises felt they didn't enjoy the policy support, as you just mentioned.
The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) has attached great importance to these problems and taken actions to address them. Today, let me take this opportunity to invite our media friends to help by publicizing the financial supportive policies to more enterprises. Next, we will continue efforts to implement our policies and take such measures as window guidance, policy guidance, monitoring and statistical analysis, and summary and assessment to guide banking and insurance institutions to ensure flexible and efficient use of these policies. Efforts will also be exerted to promote coordination between banks and enterprises. By so doing, we will ensure that the policies are well-implemented and highly-effective, increasing enterprises' sense of gain. Thank you.
China News Service:
We know that the governance of small- and medium-sized banks and institutions is one of the key tasks of the supervision work. So, what are the specific measures being taken for this year's supervision? For those non-compliant shareholders, how is the work clearing their equities progressing?
Huang Hong:
Thank you for your question. I'll let Mr. Cao Yu take this one.
Cao Yu:
Thank you for interest in small- and medium-sized banks. The Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council have attached great importance to the supervision of small- and medium-sized banks and institutions. At the 2017 National Financial Work Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly stated that we must improve the governing work of financial institutions' legal persons. In November 2019, the Financial Stability and Development Committee held its 9th conference and conducted a special study on deepening the reform of small- and medium-sized banks and resolving financial risk. The committee also emphasized the practice of sound corporate governance. Accordingly, the CBIRC cooperated with relevant departments to establish specific work plans and refine the governance requirements in detail.
Our current priorities for the governance of small- and medium-sized banks and institutions are: deeply integrating the Party's leadership and the governance of these banks and institutions, developing an evaluation system for their governance, and strengthening the "three boards and one management" system of supervision and accountability. The shareholders' structure must be optimized, the qualification of shareholders must be strictly checked, and their behavior must be regulated. A series of policies and regulations has been issued by the CBIRC, such as equity management measures, corporate governance supervision and evaluation measures. These documents have been laid as the regulation foundations for carrying out relevant works.
So far, initial progress has been achieved in the governance of small- and medium-sized banks and institutions. First, we have scaled up efforts to restrict irregularities and illegal equity-related actions, and constrain non-compliant shareholders. Last year, the CBIRC launched a campaign focused on regulating non-compliant shareholders and their affiliate transactions. Over 3,000 violations were found, and punishments were meted out. Over 1,400 non-compliant shareholders acting as natural persons or legal persons were cleared out. Since 2018, we have launched special investigations into small- and medium-sized banks and institutions within rural areas. So far, we have ordered non-compliant shareholders to transfer 3.3 billion equities, and we have punished 74 institutions to the value of 51.65 million yuan. Second, we have steadily conducted governance work to remove non-compliant shareholders and transfer their equities in high risk institutions. During the process of dissolving the risks in Baoshang Bank, the CBIRC prioritized governing non-compliant shareholders' equities and launching market oriented mergers and restructures. So far, progress has been made both in tackling risks for Baoshang Bank and in its reformations and reorganization work. For other institutions which have problems and have gained the attention of society, equity restructure plans have been enacted, and non-compliant shareholders have been removed and asked to withdraw their equities.
Although we have made some progress, we still face challenging tasks in enhancing the governance of small- and medium-sized banks and institutions. Next, the CBIRC will continue to act in accordance with market- and law-oriented policies to strengthen the regulation work and step up the centralized custody of equities. We will also further strictly check the qualifications of shareholders and reinforce pass-through management. Thank you.
The New York Times:
Many commodity exporting nations are running into difficulties now with low prices for oil and other raw materials. How would you handle impaired loans by Chinese banks to developing countries? And you are already saying there are impaired loans. Thank you.
Huang Hong:
Thanks for your question. We will have Mr. Xiao Yuanqi, chief risk officer of the CBIRC, take the question.
Xiao Yuanqi:
Thanks for your question. Both in China and overseas, Chinese banks have various business dealings, including loans. Affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and other factors, the global market has seen some turbulence, including in the financial sectors and the world economy as a whole. This has inevitably had an impact on the banks' overseas loans. This is not an issue limited to Chinese banks, as foreign banks are facing it too.
On the one hand, our banks should act in line with the market principles and laws in order to continue their normal operations in other developing countries and developed countries. On the other hand, we must bolster the risk assessment. Risk management in various sectors will be improved based on customer segmentation for banks. More importantly, these banks should strictly abide by Chinese laws and regulations, as well as those laws and regulations enforced in host countries and regions. Meanwhile, Chinese banks must carry out normal commercial activities in foreign countries in strict accordance with international rules. Thanks.
CRI:
How will the pandemic affect China's property and life insurance sectors? What roles will they play in boosting economic development? Thanks.
Huang Hong:
Thanks for your questions. I will take this one. As the pandemic continues to spread across the world, the global economy is facing mounting downward pressure. In China, the outbreak has posed new challenges and difficulties to the resumption of work and production , as well as domestic economic and social development. Economic fallout from COVID-19 has also weighed heavily on China's insurance industry with increasing uncertainties and instabilities. The impacts can be summarized as follows:
First, the growth of the insurance industry was under pressure. The epidemic caused a negative impact on production and people's life, as well as mounting downward pressure on the economy. As a result, the operation of insurance services was restrained and the growth of the industry faced great pressure. In the first quarter of 2020, the original insurance premium income grew just 2.3% year on year to 1.67 trillion yuan. Growth in original premium income plunged 13.6 percentage points in the quarter. The growth of property and life insurances decreased by 7.7 and 15.22 percentage points, respectively, from the same period last year.
Second, the income of some companies and individuals was hampered by increased volatility in business operations, causing them to have a hard time repaying funds and leading to a higher default rate. As mentioned above, credit guarantee insurance compensation expenses jumped about 50% — a significant rise in the first quarter. Other types of insurances, such as accident, health, agriculture and business interruption insurances, as well as insurances protecting people from contract delay or cancellation, have also seen their compensation expenses go up significantly. Additionally, there are increasing instabilities in the investment returns of insurance companies, as their business was hampered by the turbulence in global capital markets.
Third, expenditures of insurance companies have also gone up amid the outbreak, further increasing amortized costs.
Despite being challenged by the pandemic, the insurance industry can also benefit from a number of upsides that have resulted from it. Looking at the environment from a macro-economic perspective, the pandemic's downsides to economic and social development will be gradually lessened with the implementation of policies and measures adopted to prop up the resumption of work and production, increases in domestic demand and consumption, accelerated poverty alleviation work and sustained financial stability. Stable and long-term positive economic performance trends have not changed. At the same time, demand for insurance guarantees will ride the tide to secure consecutive growth when social risk awareness and individual insurance awareness become notably increased by a deepened understanding of the industry. Considering business cycles, as of mid-April, 99% of enterprises across the country that are above a designated size have resumed work, major nation-level projects and infrastructure constructions have made stable progress, public hygiene and suppliers of emergency products have received increasing investments and new-tech infrastructures, such as 5G and data centers that have been constructed in an expedited fashion. The insurance industry has received greater space for development as a result of the demand derived from new consumption models. The insurance industry has guaranteed sufficient reserves for reimbursements and ensured stable fluidities. Here, I would like to stress, in particular, that despite the recent, narrowing year-on-year growth rates, our business restructuring has made great headway in increasing the net cash flow at a substantial rate, which proves my mentioning that the fluidities are stable enough to cope with the brunt of adversities. The industry has reformed its management styles, reinforced scientific and technological innovation, transformed business models, improved management efficiencies, ensured scientific, technological and digitalized advancements and strengthened competitiveness to better meet the personal and social demands for insurance coverage.
In the next phase, the CBIRC will direct and boost the insurance industry's role in helping fulfill the "six guarantees" that can be fleshed out as follows. First, the industry is supposed to increase its supply to prepare for the resumption of work and production. In its active response to the growing demand for social insurance, the industry will increase the supply of healthcare insurances, especially medical insurance. The innovative products, exemplified by the "Hainan Comprehensive Insurance on Resumption of Work and Production in Line with Epidemic Prevention and Control Efforts," are supposed to coordinate efforts among industrial chains involved in work resumption. Second, guarantee insurance should play its role in ensuring financing and credit enhancement in a bid to bolster micro- and small-sized businesses, emancipating them from financial stresses and reducing their fundraising costs by offering more credit loans. Third, support to agriculture production should be guaranteed. Agricultural insurance should be given a boost, standards should be improved, spectrums expanded and services enhanced. Insurance mechanism devised to insure the three major staple foods during disasters and policy-led insurance regulations for hog supplies should be improved. In addition, the industry will also support agricultural production and work to avoid big price fluctuations on non-staple foods. Fourth, investments and exports should be buttressed to proactively guarantee a stable economic performance. The industry should enhance its risk-control capability to guarantee the smooth operations of the country's major projects, supporting traditional and modern infrastructural constructions. It should also develop export credit insurance to safeguard export enterprises and promote provisions for products to countries and overseas subsidiaries of Chinese companies that are involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Fifth, the insurance funds, because of its diverse utilities, should be given full play to invest more in the country's key industries and core areas, allowing them to financially support domestic economic development. Sixth, insurance agent team should be expanded and more jobs should be added.
China National Radio (CNR):
Faced with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, will the banks' non-performing loan ratio continue to rise, or even rise sharply, in the second quarter and bring great risks? And how will the regulatory authorities respond to this? Thank you.
Huang Hong:
Thanks for your question. Mr. Xiao will answer it.
Xiao Yuanqi:
Thanks for your question. We are all concerned about the non-performing loan ratio. The data shows that the non-performing loan ratio rose in the first quarter, and the current ratio is 2.04%, 0.06 percentage points up from the beginning of this year. The ratio concerning small and micro enterprises and industries like catering and hospitality that have been severely affected by the pandemic has increased relatively fast, which is within our estimation range. We have paid close attention and conducted an analysis of the non-performing loan ratio in the second quarter, and we will continue to do so for some time to come. We think that the ratio will further increase in the near future but won't climb high. We are resuming work and production in an orderly manner, and we have implemented a series of hedge policies to mitigate risks. The policies and measures have begun to show their effectiveness.
In terms of supervision, we have recently been conducting analysis and close monitoring. First, we have conducted stress tests, including differentiated tests set by different steps and circumstances, as well as comprehensive tests. Second, we have intensified efforts to dispose of non-performing loans. In the first quarter, we disposed of non-performing loans worth more than 450 billion yuan ($63.53 billion), increasing by 81 billion yuan ($11.43 billion) over the same period of last year. Additionally, we have expanded our channels and methods of disposal, which not only reduced the non-performing loans of the banks but also provided them with conditions to create more new loans to support enterprises. Third, we have asked all banks to make more efforts to support enterprises, especially medium, small and micro enterprises, in their resumption of work and production. The support given to the enterprises is a measure of the banks to prevent risks because as long as the enterprises can develop well, the non-performing loans of the banks will decrease. The difficulties encountered by the enterprises are temporary, and they are caused by external factors. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the fundamentals of most enterprises were good. However, since the pandemic, lots of enterprises have had to face temporary difficulties in operation and cash flow, which have made them fail to repay their loans on time. In addition to hedge measures, the banks should also strengthen their capabilities in risk management and segmentation of customers to separate enterprises affected by the pandemic from those that previously had operating problems. Most of the enterprises in difficulty belong to the former group.
We have sufficient provisions and capital to fend off risks. At present, we have provisions worth more than 6 trillion yuan ($840 billion), which give us strength in facing the challenge. In short, there will be a small increase in the non-performing loans of the banks. However, thanks to all these measures, we believe that risks can be controlled completely, and our ability to fend off risks is sufficient. Thank you.
China Review News:
The Luckin Coffee fraud has garnered a great deal of attention recently. What is the supervision department's take from this? How many loans has Luckin taken from the banks? What are the risks? Will the directors liability insurance cover this? Thank you.
Huang Hong:
I'd like to invite Mr. Cao Yu to answer this question.
Cao Yu:
Thanks for the question. Many people here are consumers. A market economy is governed by law. Observing disciplines, obeying laws and being honest is a basic requirement of Chinese law for the main body of a market economy. It is the legal obligation of all enterprises to truly, comprehensively and truthfully reflect the financial and accounting situation of enterprises.
The Luckin fraud is a flagrant offense, and it will offer profound lessons. The CBIRC will firmly support and actively cooperate with the department in charge to impose severe punishment according to law. A zero-tolerance attitude will be taken toward financial fraud to maintain a sound market environment.
As far as we are concerned, Luckin Coffee has a small loan standing with the banks and an even smaller loan balance. We have already urged relevant banks to enhance capital risk monitoring and post-loan management. Regarding the directors liability insurance, Luckin Coffee bought the directors liability insurance before listing. There are four levels of insurance policy with a total limit of $25 million, and a dozen insurance companies from home and abroad have been involved. Some of them issued reinsurance to this business. We understand that the insurance companies have received Luckin's claims. Considering that the case is complicated, the investigation is still ongoing and uncertainty exists. We will urge relevant insurance companies to properly handle it according to laws and regulations and in accordance with the contract provisions of insurance policy. Thank you.
Phoenix TV:
We have seen major fluctuations in Shenzhen's real estate industry. Many analysts have attributed this to subsidized loans that have flowed into the real estate market. What is the opinion of the CBIRC on this matter?
Huang Hong:
Thanks for your question. Mr. Xiao Yuanqi, the chief risk officer, will answer it.
Xiao Yuanqi:
Thank you. This has been a matter of concern recently. Our Shenzhen Office and the Shenzhen Central Sub-branch of the People's Bank of China have taken appropriate supervision measures. We hold that loans should be used in strict accordance with the application, and no diversions should be allowed. For mortgage lending businesses, both operation and mortgage loan usage should correspond with the intended use of the funds as written on the applications. We require the banks to monitor the money flow and make sure that funds are used for the right purposes; as for loans that have been illegally moved into the real estate industry, we have asked them to diligently make corrections. Thanks.
Financial Times:
How does the pandemic impact the solvency of small and medium-sized commercial banks? Do you anticipate more monitoring and reform measures to emerge this year?
Huang Hong:
Thanks for your question. Mr. Cao Yu, vice chairman of the CBIRC, will answer it.
Cao Yu:
Thanks for your question. In China, there are more than 4,000 legal entities that are small and medium-sized banks, with total assets of around 77 trillion yuan. Small and medium-sized banks are the main force to provide financing services for the agriculture sector and small and medium-sized enterprises. Since the management ability and business capacity of these banks is limited, and especially since their customers are special to some extent, the impact of the pandemic on these banks is quite noticeable.
To this end, according to the requirements of the Financial Stability and Development Committee under the State Council, the CBIRC has gone all out to deepen the reform of small and medium-sized banks and dissolve risks. Several departments in our sector have produced relevant work programs, which have thus far gone smoothly. This year, a string of great and significant reforms to small and medium-sized banks will occur, particularly in regard to market restructuring. Here, I would like to inform you that relevant sectors have provided favorable conditions for small and medium-sized banks, particularly with respect to the policies regarding renewal loans and targeted cuts to required reserve ratios. The CBIRC will also implement differential policies for the banks. All of these will create favorable conditions for their reform.
We believe that with our joint efforts the small and medium-sized banks will get onto a path that allows for sound development. In particular, they will provide more financing services for the agriculture sector and small and medium-sized enterprises, and fully realize their roles. We would like to call on every aspect of society to pay attention to the development of small and medium-sized banks and provide an excellent internal and external environment to allow for their sound development. Thank you.
Hong Kong Economic Herald:
What measures will be taken to deal with small and micro businesses that lack credit records but want to get a loan for the first time?
Huang Hong:
Thank you. Mr. Xiao will answer your question.
Xiao Yuanqi:
We attach great importance to this matter. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) has done a great deal to provide inclusive financial support to small and micro-enterprises. Currently, there are indeed still some small and micro businesses, especially micro-enterprises and individually-owned businesses, who have not obtained credit support or bank loans. The reasons for this are multifaceted. Some enterprises don't meet the loan requirements and some don't have access to the service. We have been stepping up measures to ensure that small and micro enterprises get loans. In particular, we will strengthen services for small and micro enterprises that haven't obtained their first loans yet to fulfill loan demand and raise the first loan ratio.
China Daily:
It has been reported that some banks and insurance institutions sold millions of pieces of their client's information. Is this true? What will the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) do to ensure the information security of clients? Thank you.
Huang Hong:
Thank you. I will take your question. The CBIRC has adopted a zero-tolerance attitude towards acts that infringe on the rights and interests of financial consumers and damage the information security of clients. Once discovered, such acts will be investigated in accordance with the law and punished severely. We have taken note of the media reports. In fact, we had already begun monitoring the illegal sale information outside of China two days before the reports came out, and we immediately asked relevant institutions to carry out a sweeping investigation. The institutions have subsequently released responses. Most of the information was fabricated and patched up by hackers.
The CBIRC attaches great attention to the cybersecurity of banks and insurance institutions, and the protection of client information, in particular, is a top priority. Over the years, we have issued a lot of regulatory policies requiring banks and insurance institutions to implement individual information protection laws and regulations, enhance the protection of clients' private information and strictly carry out institutionalized management of client information from collection, to storage to destruction.
The CBIRC established long-term working mechanisms that involve cybersecurity risk monitoring, risk warning, off-site supervision, on-site inspection and supervision rating, and incorporated the protection of client information in the banking and insurance sector into daily information technology risk monitoring. The CBIRC has also held special campaigns for client information protection and cybersecurity of the banking and insurance sectors at irregular intervals, thereby guiding and supervising banks and insurance institutions to strengthen the investigation and rectification of cybersecurity risks.
Next, the CBIRC will uphold the principle of "supervision for the people," further enhancing the cybersecurity supervision of the banking and insurance sectors and urging banks and insurance institutions to keep intensifying relevant work. We will further create a safe and reliable internet financial environment and protect the rights and interests of financial customers.
Xi Yanchun:
Thanks again to the speakers and everyone else. Today's press conference is hereby concluded.
