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The SAFE recently released the preliminary data on China 's Balance of Payments Statement for Q2 and H1 of 2012. In Q2 of 2012, the surplus under the current account totaled USD59.7 billion. Specifically, the surpluses in goods and current transfers reached USD91.3 billion and USD1 billion respectively, whereas the deficits in trade in services and income amounted to USD18.7 billion and USD13.9 billion respectively. Meanwhile, China ’s deficit under the capital and financial account (including net errors and omissions) totaled USD71.4 billion. In particular, net inflows of direct investments amounted to USD38.6 billion. International reserve assets (exclusive of the influence of non-transaction changes in value such as exchange rates and prices) registered a drop of USD11.8 billion. Specifically, transactions in foreign exchange reserve assets registered a drop of USD11.2 billion, the reserve position in the IMF registered a drop of USD400 million, and special drawing rights registered a drop of USD100 million. In H1 of 2012, the surplus under the current account was USD83.2 billion and the deficit under the capital and financial account (including net errors and omissions) was USD20.3 billion whereas international reserves registered a rise of USD62.9 billion. Balance of Payments1 (Preliminary Data) Unit: USD100 million Item 2 # Q2 of 2012 H1 of 20123 I. Current Account 1 597 832 A. Goods and Services 2 726 764 a. Goods 3 913 1132 Credit 4 5262 9574 Debit 5 4349 8443 b. Services 6 -187 -368 Credit 7 470 906 Debit 8 657 1274 1. Transportation 9 -114 -229 Credit 10 100 184 Debit 11 214 414 2. Travel 12 -89 -185 Credit 13 127 240 Debit 14 215 425 3. Communication Services 15 1 3 Credit 16 4 9 Debit 17 3 6 4. Construction Services 18 19 46 Credit 19 26 61 Debit 20 8 15 5. Insurance Services 21 -42 -84 Credit 22 9 17 Debit 23 51 100 6. Financial Services 24 -1 -1 Credit 25 2 5 Debit 26 3 6 7. Computer and Information Services 27 26 53 Credit 28 35 69 Debit 29 9 16 8. Royalties and Licensing Fees 30 -45 -85 Credit 31 2 4 Debit 32 47 89 9. Consulting Services 33 31 66 Credit 34 79 157 Debit 35 48 91 10. Advertising and Public Opinion Polling 36 3 9 Credit 37 11 23 Debit 38 8 14 11. Audio-visual and Related Services 39 -1 -2 Credit 40 0 1 Debit 41 1 2 12. Other Business Services 42 25 42 Credit 43 72 134 Debit 44 48 92 13. Government Services, n.i.e. 45 0 -1 Credit 46 2 4 Debit 47 2 5 B. Income 48 -139 33 C. Current Transfers 49 10 35 II. Capital and Financial Account 4 50 -714 -203 Of which, Direct Investments 51 386 875 III. Reserves Assets 52 118 -629 3.1 Monetary Gold 53 0 0 3.2 Special Drawing Rights 54 1 -1 3.3 Reserves Position in the Fund 55 4 8 3.4 Foreign Exchange 56 112 -636 3.5 Other Claims 57 0 0 Note: 1. This statement employs rounded-off numbers. 2. “Other items” refer to the differences, except for those marked as "Credit" or "Debit." 3. The preliminary data in this statement for H1 of 2012 are the sum total of the formal data for Q1 of 2012 and the preliminary data for Q2 of 2012. 4. The data under the capital and financial account in this statement are the balance between the current account balance and the amount of change in reserve assets, including net errors and omissions. 2012-07-31/en/2012/0731/1062.html
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The SAFE recently released the official data on China’s Balance of Payments Statement for Q2 and H1 of 2012. In Q2 of 2012, the surplus under China’s current account totaled USD53.7 billion. Specifically, according to the statistical coverage of the balance of payments, the surplus in goods and current transfers reached USD90.9 billion and USD600 million respectively, whereas the deficit in trade in services and income amounted to USD22.2 billion and USD15.6 billion respectively. Meanwhile, the deficit under the capital and financial account totaled USD41.2 billion. In particular, net inflows of direct investments, portfolio investments, and net outflows of other investments amounted to USD41.1 billion, USD11.1 billion, and USD94.4 billion respectively. International reserve assets (exclusive of the influence of non-transaction changes in value, such as exchange rates and prices) registered a drop of USD11.8 billion. Specifically, transactions in foreign exchange reserve assets registered a drop of USD11.2 billion, and special drawing rights and the reserve position in the IMF experienced a drop of USD500 million. In the first half of 2012, China’s surplus under the current account totaled USD77.2 billion. The ratio of the surplus under the current account to GDP during the same period was 2.1 percent. Meanwhile, China’s surplus under the capital and financial account totaled USD14.9 billion. China’s international reserve assets posted an increase of USD62.9 billion. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the data and analysis of China’s balance of payments among all social groups, the BOP Analysis Team of the SAFE released China’s Balance of Payments Report for the First Half of 2012. 2012-08-31/en/2012/0831/1065.html
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In order to further increase the transparency of foreign exchange administration policies and to support the real economy, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange has updated the Catalogue of Existing Effective Laws and Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration (as of the end of June 2011) and has formulated the Catalogue of Existing Effective Laws and Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration (as of the end of July 2012) (the “Catalogue”) on the basis of the recent putting in order of the regulations. The Catalogue includes a total of 400 policies and regulations on foreign exchange administration, retaining the eight major items, including general foreign exchange business, foreign exchange business under the current account, foreign exchange business under the capital account, regulations on the foreign exchange business of financial institutions, the RMB exchange rate and the foreign exchange market, as well as the balance of payments statistics and foreign exchange business statistics, foreign exchange inspections and application of the laws and regulations, and scientific administration of foreign exchange, which, in order to facilitate public inquiries, are further divided into some sub-items based on the specific types of business. Furthermore, in order to better serve the public and to improve the transparency of foreign exchange administration, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange simultaneously put online some of the policies and regulations that had been issued in previous years. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange will continue the putting in order of the regulations and will regularly update the Catalogue so as to increase knowledge and use by banks, enterprises, and individuals in an effort to promote the facilitation of trade and investment. 2012-09-05/en/2012/0905/1067.html
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Recently, in order to improve the transparency of the balance of payments statistical data, the SAFE prepared and published China’s Quarterly Balance of Payments Statements from 1998 to 2009 (see Annex I) prepared on the basis of the historical data, and simultaneously published the Annual Balance of Payments Statements from 1998 to 2009 (see Annex II) prepared on the basis of the quarterly accumulated data on a yearly basis. The data in the Quarterly Balance of Payments Statements published at this time strictly follow the requirements of the International Monetary Fund’s Balance of Payments Manual, Fifth Edition, and the data on such items as reserve assets, relevant profits from foreign direct investment in China, and foreign aid from government departments have been adjusted, further extending the length of the Balance of Payments Quarterly Time Series Data. Thus, China ’s Balance of Payments Statements include annual time series data from 1982 and quarterly time series data from 1998. For the complete time series data, see the column “Statistical Data.” 2012-07-30/en/2012/0730/1061.html
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In 2014, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) received and processed in 2014 52 proposals and motions in total from the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which mainly involved operations and administration of foreign exchange reserves, trade and investment facilitation, support of companies going global, overseas investments by individuals, and foreign exchange administration policies for special economic regions. The SAFE attached great importance to the processing efforts, arranged relevant work, and made great efforts to carry out the related tasks. As a result, the processing of the relevant proposals and motions for 2014 was completed successfully, which can be attributable to the following aspects: first, close attention from the leadership and thoughtful arrangements. With the significance of the proposals and motions processing stressed by the SAFE's Party Leadership Group, the leaders in charge of this processing effort convened a special meeting to make arrangements and raise requirements for the processing. Second, improved systems and standardized processing. A special measure has been developed to make sure the processing is institutionalized and standardized. Third, good coordination and communication to enhance the processing level. The SAFE took various measures to communicate with the delegates and further listened to their opinions and suggestions to ensure the quality of the processing. Fourth, strengthened training and rigorous overseeing. Intensive training was provided for the persons processing the proposals and motions and supervision was improved to make sure every proposal and motion was replied. After the completion of the processing, a wrap-up meeting was held to identify and summarize the experience gained and good practices in this processing effort. The year 2015 is a critical year in deepening the reforms in China in an all-round way, the first year in fully promoting the rule of law in China as well as the last year of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period. The SAFE should take the processing effort of 2015 as a touchstone for the implementation of the gist of the 18th CPC National Congress, the Third and Fourth Plenums of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference and continue to improve its work styles, so as to do well in the processing of the proposals and motions from the NPC and CPPCC in 2015. 2015-03-11/en/2015/0311/1149.html
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In order to facilitate settlement and sales of foreign exchange by banks and based on the Administrative Measures for Foreign Exchange Settlement and Sales by Banks (People’s Bank of China DecreeNo. 2 [2014], hereafter referred to as the “Measures”), the State Administration of Foreign Exchange recently issued a Circular on Printing and Distributing the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Administrative Measures for Foreign Exchange Settlement and Sales by Banks (Huifa No. 53 [2014], hereafter referred to as the “Rules”). In order to carry out the reform agenda regardingstreamlining administration and delegating power to lower levels, these Rules integrate the regulations on market entry for foreign exchange settlement and sales by banks, administration of spot foreign exchange settlement and sales, management of RMB and foreign exchange derivatives and the comprehensive position of foreign exchange settlement and sales by banks, and make adjustments to some of their content. The highlights are as follows: First, management of market entry for foreign exchange settlement and sales and RMB/foreign exchange derivatives transactions will be integrated, and the filing procedures for foreign exchange settlement and sales by banks will be simplified. Second, the requirement of unified service marksfor RMB and foreign currency conversions for individuals is abolished and substituted by the provision that banks conducting foreign exchange settlement and sales to individuals shall put the service mark in a conspicuous position. Third, daily examinations of the comprehensive position of foreign exchange settlement and sales will be substituted by a weekly examination, while the policy that links the comprehensive position of foreign exchange settlement and sales with the foreign exchange loan-to deposit ratio is abolished. Fourth, the approval authority forRMB and foreign currency conversion of the equity capital (working capital) of banks will be delegated to lower levelsandthe approvals for the foreign exchange settlement and sales by banks on behalf of their debtors will be cancelled. Last, the principles of “understanding your transactions, knowing your customers, and performing due diligence” are specified for foreign exchange settlement and sales. The Rules will come into effectas of January 1, 2015. 2015-01-20/en/2015/0120/1144.html
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In order to promote the construction of a credit system in the field of foreign exchange, strengthen penalties for dishonesty, and urge foreign exchange market players to operate in compliance with the laws, the Department of Management and Inspection of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) and the Credit Information Center of the People’s Bank of China signed a Memorandum of Cooperation regarding the collection of information on foreign exchange violations to be included in the basic database on financial credit information (the “Memorandum of Cooperation”). According to the Memorandum of Cooperation, starting from January 1, 2015, information on foreign exchange violations by enterprises and public institutions which have been involved in substantial violations and have received administrative penalties for evasion of foreign exchange controls, illegal purchases of foreign exchange, inward remittances in violation of the regulations, illegal settlements of foreign exchange, arbitrary changes in the use of foreign exchange funds or foreign exchange settlement funds, and illegal trading of foreign exchange will be included in the basic database on financial credit information of the People’s Republic of China (the “Credit Information System”). The relevant information on the foreign exchange violations will be added to the Credit Information System on a quarterly basis and will remain displayed in the system for five years. The goal of the inclusion of information on foreign exchange violations in the Credit Information System is to implement the relevant requirements of the Outline for the Planning of the Construction of a Social Credit System (2014–2020) (Guofa No. 21 [2014]), to promote the exchange and sharing of credit information of the financial regulatory authorities, to expand the application of foreign exchange credit information, to strengthen the imposition of penalties for dishonesty in the field of foreign exchange, and to promote operations by foreign exchange market players that are in full compliance with the laws. All foreign exchange market players shall seize this opportunity to further enhance their awareness of operations in compliance with the laws, strengthen internal controls, enhance their level of management, and standardize operational behavior in terms of their foreign exchange business. 2014-12-17/en/2014/1217/1141.html
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FILE: No. 3 of the Publicity Material Series on the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (Sixth Edition)—Relevant Requirements of the IMF and China’s Preparatory Work and Implementation Plan 2014-12-04/en/2014/1204/1138.html
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In early 2009 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published the revised sixth edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (“BPM6” or “the sixth edition of the Manual”). BPM6 is the latest international standard for the balance of payments (BOP) statistics, and all member countries (economies) of the IMF are obliged to carry out BOP-related statistics and to prepare BOP statements in line with these standards. In order to facilitate the general public and the declaring entities to learn about and study the latest international standards and requirements regarding the BOP statistics, to recognize the significance of implementing the sixth edition of the Manual, to enhance awareness of the BOP statistical declaration, and to better support improved work in terms of the BOP statistical system and to carry out systemic construction to implement BPM6, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has compiled a series of BPM6 interpretation materials: 1). A brief introduction to the BOP statistics and an overview of the revisions to the Manual;2.) Interpretations of the changes in the forms and data on the BOP statistics; and 3). Relevant requirements of the IMF and China’s preparatory plans and work for implementation. The major contents include: introduction to the basic concepts in the BOP statistics, background, major content, and the impact of BPM6 revisions; interpretations of the meaning of the latest forms, statistical changes in the statistical statements, as well as differences in the forms from the fifth edition; time arrangements and implementation schedule for BPM6 as determined by the IMF and the major economies, China’s preparatory work and work plan in all aspects for BPM6 implementation, and; answers to questions related to BPM6, and so forth. 2014-12-04/en/2014/1204/1139.html
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A national work conference on foreign exchange administration was recently held in Beijing. Following the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress, the Third and Fourth Plenums of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference, the conference reviewed foreign exchange administration in 2014, analyzed the current economic, financial, and BOP situations, and made plans for foreign exchange administration in 2015. Yi Gang, SAFE administrator and PBC deputy governor, delivered a work report. Deputy administrators, discipline and inspection heads, chief accountants, heads of the SAFE branches (foreign exchange administration departments) and divisions of the SAFE participated in the conference. The conference pointed out that following the plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and under the direct guidance of the CPC Committee of the PBC, the foreign exchange administration departments have regarded the reform of foreign exchange administration as a top priority in 2014. Specifically, the conference promoted the "five shifts" in foreign exchange administration and reduced the administrative approval items in order to streamline administration, delegate power, and facilitate trade and investment. The conference also launched pilot reforms, such as centralized operations for the foreign exchange capital of MNCs and voluntary settlement of foreign exchange capital to promote development of the foreign exchange market and to further expand the capital utilization channels for "going global." The conference also improved the statistics and monitoring system for cross-border capital flows and stepped up foreign exchange inspections to strengthen capabilities for on-going and ex-post regulation. In addition, operations, management, and utilization of foreign exchange reserves were enhanced and capabilities were consistently improved to serve the economic restructuring, transformation, and upgrading. To sum up, the conference successfully completed the tasks established at the beginning of the year. The conference stressed that 2015 will be key to deepening the reform and will mark the first year to advance the rule of law as well as the last year to complete the 12th Five-year Plan. During the year, following the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress and the Third and Fourth Plenums of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the plans of the Central Economic Work Conference, the foreign exchange administration departments should adapt to the new normal in economic development and accelerate the "five shifts" in foreign exchange administration to achieve the goal of realizing a basic equilibrium in the BOP. Focusing on making breakthroughs in the reform, the convertibility of cross-border capital and financial trade should be increased in good order, the foreign exchange market should be further developed, risk-prevention controls should be intensified, and an external debt and management system for capital should be built and improved under a macro-prudential management framework, and the operations, management, and utilization of the foreign exchange reserves should be enhanced innovatively so as to promote stable and healthy economic development. The conference also set the working priorities for foreign exchange administration in 2015. The foreign exchange authorities will be required to: first, adhere to law-based administration and continue to promote administrative streamlining and delegation of power in terms of foreign exchange administration; second, continue with the reform and opening up and accelerate capital account convertibility; third, maintain a bottom line for risks by intensifying monitoring, warnings, and risk responses with respect to cross-border capital flows; fourth, transform management by accelerating the building of an external debt and capital flow management system under a macro-prudential framework; fifth, put heavy pressure on those who break the laws and crack down on illegalities and foreign exchange violations; sixth, promote the development of the foreign exchange market under guidance of the market; seventh, promote innovative utilization of the foreign exchange reserves and further improve the operations and management of the foreign exchange reserves to serve the overall economic interests; eighth, step up efforts to accomplish basic tasks, such as news promotion and research based on the work priorities; and ninth, continue with strict management by enhancing CPC building, team building, and internal management, and stepping up efforts to clean up the work styles and to promote integrity among CPC officials. 2015-01-16/en/2015/0116/1143.html