CCTV:
In recent years, PBC has carried out a series of pilot programs on regional financial reforms, – covering key fields such as green finance and inclusive finance – in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Yangtze River Delta and other hotspot areas. What progresses have been made in these pilot programs? What experience did you gather that can be rolled out across the country? Thank you.
Liu Guiping:
Thanks for your questions. I gave a brief introduction previously, and would like to introduce some details now.
As China's central bank, PBC always follows the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. In accordance with the needs of macro-economic development and deployments of regional development strategy, we promote relevant works in accordance with our functions as the central bank.
I have just introduced several major strategies regarding regional development, and perhaps you may have noticed that the order in which I said them is the order of several major strategies deployed by the Party Central Committee and State Council, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle. I'd like to introduce our works on pushing forward regional development from the perspective of the five development philosophies stressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping.
First, we implemented the philosophy of innovative development. We have promoted the reform and innovation of sci-tech innovation finance and actively explored an effective model for finance to support science and technology innovation. For example, we explored six special development models at East Lake High-tech Development Zone in Wuhan city, with the aim of building investment and financing channels to serve the whole life cycle of science and technology enterprises. The development models include institution establishment, operational mechanisms, financial products, information platforms, direct financing and financial supervision. All the experience we learned has been spread across the country.
Second, we implemented the philosophy of coordinated development. We actively promoted and supported major strategies for regional development. For example, we accelerated the building of Shanghai into an international financial center and high-quality and integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, so as to give full play to the leading role of Shanghai as an international financial center. We made great progresses in streamlining administration, delegating power, improving regulation and upgrading services of the finance industry, coordinating supervision of credit agencies, and sharing economic and financial information. At the same time, when providing financial services for the construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, we innovated cooperation models between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, and promoted cross-border mobile payment facilitation, trials of account opening witness service and cross-border purchase of wealth management products by residents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – which is now in the process of moving forward. We also upgraded financial services in the area, and achieved positive results in finance related to people's livelihoods, facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, and financial market connectivity.
Third, we implemented the philosophy of green development. We propelled the construction of pilot zones of reform and innovation of green finance in six provinces and regions. The six provinces and regions are Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou and Gansu provinces and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. By the end of last year, the loan balance of green finance in these six provinces and regions reached 236.83 billion yuan, accounting for 15.1% of their total loan balance, and 4.3 percentage points higher than the national average. Bond balance of green finance in these places reached 135 billion yuan, up 66% year-on-year. Ganzhou New Area in Jiangxi province successfully issued the country's first authenticated green municipal special bond. Huadu district in Guangzhou developed several financial products such as carbon emissions rights mortgage and pledge financing.
Fourth, we implemented the philosophy of open development. We advanced financial opening and innovation in free trade zones, and forged a new paradigm of financial innovation. At present, there are 21 free trade zones throughout China. The experience we have spread across the country include more than 10 new businesses of local and foreign currency, such as macro-prudential management of full-diameter cross-border financing with the integration of local and foreign currencies; cross-border two-way RMB capital pool of transnational enterprises and groups; and simplified RMB settlement process for regular and direct investments.
Fifth, we implemented the philosophy of shared development. We promoted reform and innovative trials for inclusive finance and micro-finance, and significantly improved the coverage and accessibility of financial services. Taizhou city in Zhejiang province and Lankao county in Henan province solved issues relating to agriculture, rural areas, and rural people, information asymmetry and difficulties faced by small and micro-businesses in accessing affordable financing by making good use of financial technology. Taizhou has earned experience in financial services for small and micro-enterprises by focusing on real entities, services for small and micro-enterprises, and utilizing an accurate supply and stable operation. Lankao explored a new development model of inclusive finance with digital service platforms as the core. Thank you.
China Financial and Economic News:
Accelerated constructionof Shanghai as an international financial center and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Deltaregion are major development strategies established by the CPC Central Committee. What has the People's Bank of China (PBC) done in this regard? Thank you.
Liu Guiping:
Thank you for your question. Mr. Wang will answer this question.
Wang Xin:
Thank you for your question. Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta area are the regions with the most dynamic economy, the highest level of development and the highest degree of opening-up in China. Accelerating Shanghai's development as an international financial center and providing sound financial support for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region are important measures in creating a new highland of high-level opening-up. Last February, when Chinese society was hit hard by the epidemic, upon the approval of the State Council, the PBC, along with the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), China Securities Regulatory Commision (CSRC), State Foreign Exchange Administration (SAFE) and Shanghai Municipal People's Government, released the Opinions on Further Accelerating the Development of Shanghai as an International Financial Center and Providing Financial Support for the Integrated Development of the Yangtze River Delta Region. This is a major document, which lays out 30 specific measures covering all aspects of financial reform and opening-up. Some of the key points and highlights include increasing the green assets allocation of financial institutions, since it is very important at present for these institutions to increase green financial assets, fulfill their social responsibilities, and make sustainable investments. The Opinions also promotes the integrated establishment of green financial service platforms and the integrated development of credit investigation in the Yangtze River Delta region, which as a basic task, is essential for unified economicand financial development in the region. The Opinions also states that an inclusive financial index system and an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for financial consumption disputes should be set up in the region. In addition, Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta region, with their relatively developed finance and science and technology, lead the country with regard to science and technology innovation. For example, in terms of getting listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, or STAR Market, be it the enterprises applying for listing or enterprises finally getting listed on the Market, enterprises from the Yangtze River Delta region account for nearly 50% of the country's total. Such a large proportion shows us the importance of the economy and finance of the region, including Shanghai.
Next, the PBC will continue to promote implementation of the Opinions, and many measures in it need our increased efforts to be carried out more quickly. We will step up efforts to further the development of green finance, integration of credit investigation, and establishment of an inclusive financial index system and an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for financial consumption disputes in the Yangtze River Delta region to promote the region's integrated development. Thank you.
