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The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has recently disseminated the data on banks' foreign-related receipts and payments for customers for January 2020. SAFE Press Spokesperson and Chief Economist Wang Chunying answered media questions on foreign exchange receipts and payments for January 2020. Q: Could you brief us on the situations of China’s foreign exchange receipts and payments in January 2020? What changes have occurred recently? A: China’s foreign exchange receipts and payments remained generally stable and the supply and demand of the foreign exchange market maintained a basic equilibrium in January. The highlights are as follows: Firstly, the foreign-related receipts and payments of non-banking sectors remained in surplus in January, which hit USD 7.4 billion, indicating net inflows have been maintained since December 2019. Secondly, based on the preliminary data, banks’ foreign exchange settlement and sales represented a slight surplus in the month. Considering the forward foreign exchange settlement and sales, options and other supply and demand factors, the supply-demand of the foreign exchange market was in a basic equilibrium. Thirdly, foreign exchange reserves rose steadily. The balance of foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 3.1155 trillion at the end of January, up by USD 7.6 billion from the end of 2019. Fourthly, the cross-border capital flows via major channels were relatively stable, and foreign-related receipts and payments under trade in goods, direct investment and portfolio investment remained in surplus. Since the beginning of February, despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the foreign exchange market has maintained stable operation, showing the market is becoming more mature and rational. After a short adjustment, the RMB exchange rate has continued to show slight two-way fluctuations with both ups and downs. The supply and demand of foreign exchange market maintains a basic equilibrium, the foreign-related receipts and payments of non-banking sectors remain stable, and the foreign-related transactions of market players including enterprises and individuals are rational and orderly, indicating that China’s foreign exchange market has become more mature, and can better absorb and adapt to the impact of relevant events. Going forward, China’s foreign exchange market is expected to maintain stable operation, based on a solid foundation and favorable conditions. On the one hand, the impact of the epidemic will be short-lived and limited, while China’s economy is resilient, there’s ample room for macro-control policies, and the fundamentals sustaining sound and high-quality economic growth over the long term haven't changed, which will continue to bolster the stability of China’s foreign exchange market. On the other hand, China’s opening-up has been deepened, the domestic business environment has been improving, and the internationalization level of the capital market has been rising, which will continue to attract mid- and long-term investment. 2020-02-21/en/2020/0221/1639.html
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On December 30, 2019, Yi Gang, Governor the People's Bank of China (PBC), visited the Investment Center of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) to meet with officials for the operation and management of foreign exchange reserves, accompanied by Pan Gongsheng, Deputy Governor of the PBC and Administrator of the SAFE, Zhang Xin and Lu Lei, both deputy administrators of the SAFE. Yi Gang showed his care for every official engaged in the operations and management of foreign exchange reserves, and confirmed the great accomplishments achieved in the operations and management of foreign exchange reserves in 2019. Yi Gang pointed out that, facing increasing risks and challenges in and outside China in the year to date, the Investment Center has studied and implemented Xi Jinping thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and the decisions and arrangements by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. By pursuing progress while maintaining stability and ensuring robust operations, the Investment Center has safeguarded the security and flows of foreign exchange reserve assets and the preservation and growth of their value, providing a solid guarantee for preventing and addressing major risks and maintaining economic and financial stability. Yi Gang also stressed that, in 2020, the last year for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and of the 13th Five-year Plan period, ensuring smooth operations and management of foreign exchange reserves will be both a glorious mission and an arduous task. At the juncture of achieving the Two Centenary Goals, officials involved in the operations and management of foreign exchange reserves, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, should implement the guiding principles of the Party’s 19th National Congress and the second, third and fourth plenary sessions of its 19th Central Committee, and the decisions and arrangements of the Central Economic Working Conference. They should further understand the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment. They should strengthen their confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They should resolutely uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and resolutely uphold the Party Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. Keeping in mind the Party’s founding mission, they should endeavor to improve the operations and management systems for foreign exchange reserves with Chinese characteristics, further promote the modernization of operations and management and forge ahead to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. 2019-12-31/en/2019/1231/1630.html
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各省、自治区、直辖市司法厅（局），国家外汇管理局各省、自治区、直辖市分局、外汇管理部，深圳、大连、青岛、厦门、宁波市分局： 为促进和便利我国律师事务所在境外设立分支机构，规范律师事务所在境外设立分支机构外汇管理，支持中国律师“走出去”，服务我国全方位对外开放大局，现就做好律师事务所在境外设立分支机构相关管理工作通知如下： 一、本通知所称的律师事务所境外分支机构是指我国律师事务所在境外投资设立，经境外有关国家和地区政府部门或有关组织批准或登记，人员、业务、财务受该律师事务所实际控制，在境外实质性开展法律服务业务的分支机构。 二、律师事务所设立、变更或注销境外分支机构，应按照《律师事务所境外分支机构备案管理规定》至所在地的省、自治区、直辖市司法行政机关办理备案，律师事务所办理备案时应根据实际需要向司法行政机关申报境外分支机构投资总额、境内方出资比例、境内方出资总额、出资币种等。 三、律师事务所通过司法行政机关备案后，凭备案回执及相关外汇管理法规规定的材料，在所在地银行办理境外直接投资外汇登记。 律师事务所完成外汇登记后可依法在外汇指定银行办理境外直接投资资金汇出或境外资本变动收入汇回及结汇；律师事务所境外投资经营收益汇回，可保留在经常项目外汇账户或直接结汇。 四、司法行政机关及外汇管理部门应加强对律师事务所境外设立分支机构活动的事后监管。律师事务所违反相关规定的，司法行政机关及外汇管理部门依法追究责任。 五、本通知自发布之日起执行。本通知中未予明确的管理事项，按同期相关管理政策执行。 各分局、外汇管理部接到本通知后，应及时转发辖区内各分支机构、各中资外汇指定银行、城市商业银行、农村商业银行、外资银行。 附件：1.律师事务所境外分支机构设立备案回执 2.律师事务所境外分支机构变更备案回执 3.律师事务所境外分支机构注销备案回执 司法部 国家外汇管理局 2020年3月5日 2020-03-19/ningxia/2020/0319/1285.html
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The branches and foreign exchange administration departments of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) in all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the SAFE branches in Shenzhen, Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen, and Ningbo, and national Chinese-funded banks, To boost healthy development of the domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses for individuals ("exchange franchise business") in compliance with regulations, the SAFE has revised the Measures for Administration of the Pilot Program on Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals ("Measures") (see the appendix). Relevant contents are highlighted as follows: First, following the arrangements of the State Council of streamlining administration and delegating power, improving regulation, and upgrading services, foreign exchange administration departments at various levels shall tighten regulation of institutions engaged in exchange franchise business within your jurisdictions. Under the guideline of easy access and stringent regulation, foreign exchange administration departments shall intensify ongoing and ex-post management, and perform the responsibility of territorial financial regulation to guard against financial risk. SAFE branches and foreign exchange administration departments ("branches" for short) shall report to the SAFE for filing before approving for the first time non-financial institutions to engage in exchange franchise business in their jurisdictions, based on local situations. Second, domestic non-financial institutions and its branches/sub-branches who have obtained the qualification for engaging in the exchange franchise business before this Circular is published shall apply to local foreign exchange authorities for renewal of the License for Engaging in Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals ("Exchange Business License") before August 31, 2020. In particular, the headquarters of domestic non-financial institutions shall also submit the Letter of Commitment on Engaging in Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals, and materials stating automatic interfacing of their exchange business systems with the SAFE's individual foreign exchange business system. If they fail to submit these materials on time, local SAFE branches shall disqualify them from engaging the exchange franchise business and write of the Exchange Business License. Third, upon receipt of this Circular, SAFE branches shall forward it immediately to the central sub-branches, sub-branches, city commercial banks, rural commercial banks, wholly foreign-owned banks, Sino-foreign joint venture banks, branches of foreign-owned banks, rural cooperative financial institutions, and exchange franchise business institutions within their jurisdictions, while national Chinese-funded banks shall forward it promptly to the branches and sub-branches within their jurisdictions and accurately convey policy requirements to ensure implementation efforts. Fourth, this Circular will become effective as of the date of issuance. Meanwhile, the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issuing the Measures for Administration of the Pilot Program on Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals (Huifa No. 27, [2012]), the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning the Handling of Exchange Business by Franchised Institutions of Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange for Individuals Through the Internet (Huifa No. 41 [2015]), the Reply of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange to Franchised Institutions Providing Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange for Individuals to Engage in Transport of Foreign Currency Cash into or out of the Territory and Foreign Currency Wholesale Business (Huifu No. 169 [2015]), and the Circular of the General Affairs Department of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Standardizing Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Business for Individuals and Foreign Currency Exchange Business (Huizongfa No. 38 [2015]) will be rescinded. Appendix: Measures for Administration of the Pilot Program on Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals State Administration of Foreign Exchange February 13, 2020 2020-02-19/en/2020/0219/1641.html
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To push forward with reforms that delegate power, improve regulation, and upgrade services, and increase policy transparency, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has recently updated the Catalogue of Major Effective Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration (Catalogue) and released it in the "Policies & Regulations" section on its official website to facilitate queries and use by the public. The Catalogue classifies 219 regulations on foreign exchange administration released as of December 31, 2019 into eight major categories, namely, General Foreign Exchange Administration, Foreign Exchange Administration under the Current Account, Foreign Exchange Administration under the Capital Account, Regulation of Foreign Exchange Business of Financial Institutions, RMB Exchange Rate and Foreign Exchange Market, BOP and Foreign Exchange Statistics, Foreign Exchange Inspections and Applicable Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Technical Management, and into several sub-categories further by type of business. In particular, new documents added to the Catalogue primarily concern promotion of cross-border trade and investment facilitation, streamlining of foreign exchange accounts, cancellation of evidence requirements related to foreign exchange administration, and standardizing of financial marketing and promotions. 2020-02-24/en/2020/0224/1645.html
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Catalogue of Major Effective Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration (as of December 31, 2019) 2020-02-24/en/2020/0224/1646.html
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The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) held a press conference on foreign exchange receipts and payments for 2019 in the State Council Information Office at 4pm on Friday, January 17, 2020 and answered questions from the press. Shou Xiaoli: Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to today's press conference. We are here to release the annual economic data, and we are delighted to have with us Ms Wang Chunying, press spokesperson, chief economist and director of the Balance of Payments Department of the SAFE. She will brief us on foreign exchange receipts and payments for 2019 and answer questions of interest. Now let's invite Ms. Wang Chunying for some opening remarks. 2020-01-17 16:00:46 Wang Chunying: Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to today's press conference. I would first like to announce China's foreign exchange receipts and payments situations for 2019 and then take your questions. Amid the complex global environment in 2019, the world economy slowed down, global trade and investment lost steam, and destabilizing factors and uncertainties were many. Notwithstanding, China's economy was resilient, featuring stable growth while making further progress and optimized economic structure, with economic indicators kept within a reasonable range. The RMB exchange rate became more elastic and stayed stable, with overall expectations remaining steady. As a result, China's cross-border capital flows stayed stable on the whole and its foreign exchange market remained in a basic equilibrium in the year. In 2019, in dollar terms, banks settled USD 1.85 trillion and sold USD 1.91 trillion of foreign exchange, representing a deficit of USD 56 billion; in yuan terms, banks settled RMB 12.76 trillion and sold RMB 13.15 trillion of foreign exchange, representing a deficit of RMB 384.3 billion. For foreign-related receipts and payments by banks for customers, in dollar terms, banks registered USD 3.62 trillion in foreign-related receipts and USD 3.59 trillion in foreign-related payments for customers, representing a surplus of USD 24.5 billion; and in yuan terms, banks posted RMB 24.98 trillion in foreign-related receipts and RMB 24.81 trillion in foreign-related payments for customers, leading to a surplus of RMB 164.4 billion. China's foreign exchange receipts and payments for 2019 are characterized by the following: First, foreign exchange settlement and sales by banks represented a slight deficit but foreign-related receipts and payments by banks for customers were in surplus. In 2019, Chinese banks registered a monthly average deficit of USD 4.7 billion, consistent with that of 2018. If other supply and demand factors like forward foreign exchange settlement and sales, and options were considered, the foreign exchange market would be in a basic equilibrium. Banks achieved a monthly average surplus of USD 2 billion in foreign-related receipts and payments for customers, versus a deficit in 2018. Second, the supply-demand balance was strengthened in the foreign exchange market recently, with increasing cross-border net capital inflows. Despite increasing complexities and uncertainties in the external environment since May 2019, China's foreign exchange market has been in a basic equilibrium. Banks' foreign exchange settlement and sales were improving, with the monthly average deficit trending downward from USD 8 billion to USD 5 billion, and to USD 2.6 billion from the second, third and fourth quarters respectively, and with the foreign exchange settlement and sales for December representing a surplus of USD 2.2 billion. Banks' foreign-related receipts and payments for customers changed from a deficit of USD 28.7 billion in the third quarter to a surplus of USD 22 billion in the fourth quarter. Third, the foreign exchange sales ratio stayed stable and foreign exchange financing by companies remained steady. In 2019, the foreign exchange sales ratio, a measure of people's desire to buy foreign exchange, or the ratio of foreign exchange purchases by banks to foreign-related foreign exchange payments by customers, stood at 67%, down from the average level of the past five years. Foreign exchange financing by companies was stable. In the first 11 months, Chinese banks' outstanding domestic foreign exchange loans fell by USD 16.8 billion, which was down by 71% from the 2018 level; companies' balance of cross-border foreign currency financing for imports as at the end of 2019 was consistent with that of 2018. Fourth, the foreign exchange settlement ratio rose steadily, indicating a weakening desire to hold foreign exchange. In 2019, the foreign exchange settlement ratio, a measure of people's desire to settle foreign exchange, or the ratio of sales of foreign exchange by customers to banks to customers' foreign-related foreign exchange receipts, was 64%, higher than the average level of the past five years. Foreign exchange deposits of companies and individuals dropped slightly, with banks' balance of domestic foreign exchange deposits at the end of November down by USD 16.2 billion from that of the end of 2018. Fifth, banks' forward foreign exchange settlement and sales was in surplus. In 2019, a surplus of USD 145.2 billion was recorded in banks' forward foreign exchange settlement and sales for customers, based on surpluses of USD 34.5 billion, USD 43.2 billion, USD 27.8 billion and USD 39.7 billion in forward foreign exchange settlement and sales for the first to the fourth quarter. Sixth, the balance of foreign exchange reserves rose steadily. As at the end of 2019, a balance of USD 3.1079 trillion was achieved in foreign exchange reserves, up by USD 12.3 billion month-on-month and by USD 35.2 billion from the beginning of the year. These are the major statistics on foreign exchange receipts and payments for 2019 I plan to reveal today. Now I would like to take your questions. 2020-01-17 16:10:52 Shou Xiaoli: Now you can raise your questions, but remember to tell us the news agency you represent first. 2020-01-17 16:11:40 China Media Group: The global environment was rather complex in 2019. What would you say about China's cross-border capital flows in the year? What would be the trends for the year ahead as compared with 2019? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Thank you. 2020-01-17 16:58:06 Wang Chunying: I'd like to describe or summarize the situation in the foreign exchange market in 2019 in four words, namely, "stability, equilibrium, rationality and orderliness". "Stability" means to keep the RMB exchange rate generally stable and at an adaptive and balanced level. In 2019, the CNY and CNH against the dollar depreciated by 1.4% and 1.3% respectively, which were astonishingly low. The US Dollar Index climbed by 0.2% and EMCI fell by 1.2%. In general, the RMB exchange rate was stable, as compared with other non-USD currencies. "Equilibrium" means the foreign exchange market was in a basic equilibrium. As indicated by the data released just now, banks' foreign exchange settlement and sales represented a monthly average deficit of USD 4.7 billion in 2019, consistent with the 2018 level, and underlining a basic equilibrium. The non-banking sector registered a cumulative slight surplus in cross-border receipts and payments, and the balance of foreign exchange reserves grew while maintaining stability. "Rationality" means that foreign exchange market players were more rational in cross-border investment and financing and foreign exchange settlement and sales. For example, overseas investors assessed China's economic and market potential in a sensible and active manner and were enthusiastic for investing in China. Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that China used USD 124.4 billion in foreign capital from January to November 2019, up by 2.6% year-on-year. Meanwhile, overseas investors continued to increase the domestic RMB assets they held. The SAFE statistics show that overseas investors' net holding of domestic bonds increased by USD 86.6 billion and their net holding of stocks rose by USD 41.3 billion in the year, totaling USD 128 billion. For another example, Chinese players were sensible and orderly in outward investment. Data from the Ministry of Commerce indicates that ODI by the non-financial sector remained stable from January to November 2019 and grew by more than 40% from the 2016 level, and therefore, ODI was made in a good order. What's more, individuals' net purchases of foreign exchange in 2019 went down by 20% year-on-year. Therefore, companies and individuals have become more rational given their market behaviors. "Orderliness" means that the foreign exchange market was healthier and more orderly. Amid the SAFE's crackdown on violations against laws and regulations, we investigated and dealt with 2,547 cases in 2019 and clamped down on illegal online foreign exchange margin trading platforms in an appropriate and orderly manner, with 2,455 illegal foreign exchange margin websites closed by the end of the year. The crackdown on violations boosted market players to raise their awareness of operations in compliance with regulations and helped maintain a good order in the foreign exchange market. According to the data released just now, outward payments reviewed by banks reached USD 3.59 trillion, which actually is an indication of companies' and individuals' efforts to reallocate their assets through outward payments or overseas investment. In our opinion, an orderly market can be a strong guarantee for compliance of market players and free capital flows, and help address overseas investors' concern over free flows of authentic capital in compliance with regulations. For the foreign exchange trends in 2020 that you are interested in, cross-border capital flows are expected to remain stable. Globally, there will still be destabilizing factors and uncertainties in the year, such as slowdown of the world economy, impact of trade protectionism on foreign trade and investment, increasing fragility of global financial markets and instabilities in international politics. Nevertheless, China's economic, policy and market fundamentals will continue to play a leading role in stabilizing the foreign exchange market. China's economic fundamentals will provide a strong support. In exchange rate analysis or BOP analysis, the underpinning role of economic fundamentals is usually stressed since they represent long-term trends that will not change with a minor step or for a minor reason. As indicated by China's economic fundamentals, China boasts strong economic resilience and potential. Its economy is sound and stable, and will remain so over the long term. In addition, since there is much leeway for China's macroeconomic policy to regulate against business cycles, China will continue with positive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy, and deepen the supply-side structural reform. All this will effectively support economic stability. China's political fundamentals show that it still has strong potential and large room for deepening reform and opening up, and will continue to boost its economic growth through reform and increase benefits through opening up. In 2020, China will further open up its financial industry as the new foreign investment law will be adopted and the new securities law has been recently introduced. For the business environment, China's global ranking by business environment soared in 2018 and jumped further in 2019. China's market fundamentals show that it delivered striking performance in 2019 in terms of foreign exchange market maturity. As the RMB exchange rate formation mechanism was improving, exchange rate elasticity was strengthened and played a significant role in allocating foreign exchange resources, balancing the BOP and strengthening macroeconomic resilience. China's capabilities to mitigate risks in foreign exchange markets were improved significantly and market players' behaviors in foreign exchange markets became more rational and orderly. As shown by economic, policy and market fundamentals, cross-border capital flows in China are expected to stay stable and balanced in 2020. 2020-01-17 16:59:11 China News Service: What impact will the "phase one" deal signed between China and the US have on China's trade in services and in goods in 2020? What would you say about the trends under the current account in 2020? Thank you. 2020-01-17 17:14:35 Wang Chunying: Let's first look at the performance of China's current account in recent years. China's current account has been in a basic equilibrium in recent years, except minor fluctuations. Driven by deep-seated and structural factors, the equilibrium will not be easily upset in the mid and long term. In the macroeconomic theory, the balance of the current account is related to the shortages of deposits and investments, and deposits and investing behaviors will not change dramatically in the short term. As a result, the balance of the current account will not change substantially in the short term. Along with economic growth and structural optimization and adjustment, China's current account has entered a stage of further equilibrium. Due to the cyclical fluctuations of commodity prices and import and export demands, the balance of the current account will fluctuate slightly, which however will not change the basic equilibrium of the balance of payments. For example, the current account surplus was USD 49.1 billion in 2018, and rebounded to USD 137.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2019, accounting for 1.3% of GDP. Therefore, despite the complex and changing external environment, China's current account remained robust, showing strong adaptability and a solid foundation for balanced and stable economic growth in China. We expect that China's current account will be kept within a reasonable range with a slight surplus in 2020. First, surplus in trade in goods may stay stable. The "phase one" deal recently signed by the US and China based on equality and mutual respect will be favorable for increasing trade between the two countries and strengthening global confidence to create a friendly environment for normal trading activities, which will fuel China's imports and exports. The World Bank's latest projections released in January 2020 show that the global trading volume will grow by 1.9% in the year, 0.5 percentage points higher than that of 2019. Given the global trading size, this slight increase could add significantly to the year's trading volume. Further, China boasts a complete manufacturing industry chain and is accelerating the transformation and upgrading of the industry, so relevant products will remain competitive worldwide. In addition, the broad domestic market, residents' strong consumption potential and high demand for quality products will boost China's trade in goods for imports and exports, so the surplus in trade in goods will stay stable. Second, deficit in trade in services has remained steady in recent years, which will continue in the future. Experience from major developed countries shows that when the economy reaches a certain stage, spending on services like overseas travel and study will not keep rising but go steady as residents' consumption concepts change and the nation's soft power improves. This holds true for the deficit in trade in services in China in recent years. Since 2015, deficit in trade in services in China has grown at a low rate, and even declined slightly in the first three quarters of 2019. Therefore, as the domestic service level and education quality improve, deficit in trade in services will stay stable and may contract in the foreseeable future. With the outward investment structure optimized, deficit in ROI will remain low. This is mainly because returns will rise with the increase in China's ODI. As shown by China's external asset structure, foreign exchange reserves accounted for a high share in the past, but ODI has increased thus far, providing a strong boost to returns. Therefore, the optimization of the share of external asset will help improve China's return on investment. Based on the above analysis, the current account will remain in a basic equilibrium in 2020, complemented by slight surpluses. 2020-01-17 17:15:36 The Economic Daily: As Ms Wang has mentioned, with the liberalization of financial markets, more foreign funds are flowing into China's securities markets. What would you say about this? What's your view on future capital flows? 2020-01-17 18:00:16 Wang Chunying: As you have said, foreign investors increased the bonds and stocks they held in China by nearly USD 130 billion net in 2019, with the balance nearing USD 650 billion as at the year end. The SAFE statistics show that foreign investors bought USD 86.6 billion net in additional bonds and USD 41.3 billion net in additional listed shares in China in the year. As reform and opening up has been deepened in recent years, foreign investors have increased the bonds and stocks they hold in China at a faster pace, with the balance at the end of 2019 more than doubling that of 2016. Foreign investors now claim around 3% and 4% of China's bond and stock markets, nearly twice those of the end of 2016. The continuous flows of foreign capital into China's bond and stock markets is a result of the opening up steadily expanded and deepening reforms in China's financial markets. In recent years, China has sped up the opening up of its interbank bond market, launching Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, and Bond Connect, and has deepened reform of the qualified foreign institutional investors system. For example, the State Council approved the SAFE to relax the investment quota restrictions on QFIIs and RQFIIs in 2019, making it more convenient for foreign investors to invest in China's securities markets. Further, as China's bonds and stocks are included in global mainstream indices, foreign investors' demand for allocating their RMB assets will strengthen, and capital will keep flowing into China's securities and stock markets. Overall, the flows of foreign capital into China's bond and stock markets have positive implications. For example, they offer domestic players more access to financing, enabling them to leverage both foreign and domestic markets and resources to provide investment opportunities for CNH and increase the attractiveness of RMB in other countries and regions. They can also diversify domestic market players and attract experienced foreign institutional investors into the Chinese market to boost healthy development of China's capital markets, and strengthen both domestic and foreign investors' confidence by indicating foreign investors' confidence in China's economy, markets and RMB assets. Foreign capital has much room to increase in the Chinese market in the future. On the one hand, with expanding capital markets in China, China is ranked No. 2 globally for its bond and stock markets, of which however foreign capital still has low shares, being around 3% and 4% respectively as I have mentioned, indicating much space for improvement. But as China's capital markets are opened, foreign investors will claim significantly higher shares, as shown in South Korea and Taiwan of China. On the other hand, China's securities market is very attractive in terms of bond yields and equity valuation. For example, ten-year treasury bonds in China have a yield of around 3.1%, 1.3 percentage points higher than that of the US for the same tenure, making China more attractive to bonds with negative interest rates. What's more, Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index grew by 22% in 2019, which was at the forefront in global stock markets, but the current price earnings ratio is only about 15 times, lower than 22 times of S&P 500 Index in the US. China has the conditions and foundation to support the continued growth of foreign capital inflows under portfolio investment in the future. First, mid and long-term asset allocation-driven inflows will continue to dominate. As at the end of 2019, of non-resident players investing in China's bond market, overseas central banks accounted for 62%, which was stable and long-term investment. According to the latest data released by the IMF, the yuan accounted for 2.01% of global reserve currencies as of the end of the third quarter of 2019, hitting a historical high, suggesting room for further improvement for overseas institutions including central banks to allocate the RMB assets. Second, China's economic and financial fundamentals will remain strong. Along with the increasing share of foreign investment in China's bond and stock markets, relevant cross-border capital flows will increase and China's risk mitigation capabilities in the foreign exchange market will be strengthened. Many media and experts have asked us whether we are concerned over the pressure from capital outflows in the future or the hurdles in outward remittances, just as I have mentioned in my answer to the first question, after such a massive amount of foreign capital flows in. That is not necessary actually. China's foreign exchange market has been opened up in a positive, progressive and controllable manner, based on full considerations of the accounts to be opened and processes, with relevant risks kept under control. We have promised to the media and the public that China's foreign exchange market will not be closed, and also expect you to communicate such confidence to global investors, which is critical. Thank you. 2020-01-17 18:00:58 Etnet Hong Kong: Could you elaborate on the impact of the "phase one" deal between China and the US on the RMB exchange rate? Will the recent appreciation of the RMB sustain? Thank you. 2020-01-17 18:01:23 Wang Chunying: China's foreign exchange market has responded positively to the "phase one" deal signed by the US and China. For the RMB exchange rate, the "phase one" deal, including relevant provisions, has been released online, and the People's Bank of China has published its explanations, which can serve as a reference for you. The substantive progress of the exchange rate and other issues is a very positive sign. The RMB exchange rate has been on the rise recently. In the future, China would further improve the market-based exchange rate formation mechanism, keep the RMB exchange rate elastic, and leverage the exchange rate as the automatic stabilizer to the macro economy and the balance of payments, so as to keep the RMB exchange rate generally stable and at an adaptive and balanced level. What's more, we hope to release more data to help market players predict the market prospects. If all institutions can make reasonable judgment on trade and investment, China's foreign exchange market will not fluctuate violently. Thank you. 2020-01-17 18:02:15 Hong Kong Economic Herald: We have noticed that the RMB exchange rate has been increasingly fluctuating since the beginning of 2019. How should enterprises manage the risks arising from the RMB exchange rate? Thank you. 2020-01-17 18:31:50 Wang Chunying: Thank you for your question. I have answered many times the questions on how enterprises can mitigate risks arising from the RMB exchange rate, but I wish to continue to communicate our views and perspectives. It is the SAFE's responsibility to support the real economy to manage exchange rate risks, and we expect to deepen more enterprises' understanding to avoid losses from fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate through communications in various ways. I would hereby like to share with you some of my ideas, hoping that you can communicate them to a wider array of enterprises. Enterprises must pay full heed to risk management as the exchange rate becomes increasingly elastic. In 2019, the RMB exchange rate remained robust in global currency markets, with the domestic strike price depreciating by a slight 1.4%. But the two-way fluctuation was more evident, with the amplitude of fluctuation between the peak and the bottom of the RMB exchange rate against the US dollar reaching 7.7%, versus 17% of the BRL, 12.7% of the RUB, 10.8% of the GBP, 9.7% of the KRW, 8.5% of the AUD, 6.5% of the JPY, and 5.9% of the EUR, showing the medium fluctuation range of the RMB exchange rate. Overall, the range was significant for enterprises, and as increasing the elasticity of the exchange rate is an important part of China's managed floating exchange rate system that is based on market supply and demand and regulated against a basket of currencies, market players including enterprises need to adapt to the more elastic foreign exchange environment at a faster pace and emphasize exchange rate risk management. There are weaknesses, shortcomings and deviations in exchange rate risk management among enterprises, as well as inadaptations to the changes in foreign exchange markets. For example, some manage exchange rate risk passively, not actively, with a habit of stressing risk management when exchange rate fluctuations intensify; some take derivatives as means to make money rather than tools to lock up risks. Many enterprises, we found, aim to make money through hedging against exchange rate risks. They will hedge if that is profitable and won't if that is unprofitable. Still others cling to the stereotype of one-way fluctuation by hedging against exchange rate risks in only one way and ignoring the two-way fluctuations of market-based exchange rate. It is crucial to the development of foreign exchange markets by supporting enterprises to improve exchange rate risk management. We hope to intensify promotions and education to enterprises about risk management and guide them to establish accurate awareness of exchange rate risks, and to drive financial institutions to diversify products and hedge against risks to better serve enterprises, and to increase market transparency and facilitate reasonable judgment of market situations by market players. The SAFE keeps releasing data in high frequency and disseminates data on banks' foreign exchange sales and settlement, banks' foreign-related receipts and payments for customers, and transactions in foreign exchange markets every month, and the Balance of Payments data in the shortest possible time lag, hoping to enable more enterprises to judge the situations of foreign exchange markets more easily. We also hope to keep the RMB exchange rate generally stable and at an adaptive and balanced level. We would also like to give some suggestions to enterprises on exchange rate risk management. First, enterprises need to adapt to exchange rate fluctuations and overcome fears of floating exchange rate to face RMB depreciations and appreciations in a sensible way. Second, they need to transact prudently and sensibly with sound risk assessment, avoiding unfamiliar deals and excessive hedging. Third, they need to focus on main businesses, avoiding too many efforts on judging and speculating exchange rate movements, deviation from main businesses or speculative arbitration using derivatives to take unnecessary risks. Fourth, they need to maximize the control over currency mismatch, and build rational currency structure for assets and liabilities to ensure the stability and sustainability of financial positions. In 2019, we spent a long time on in-depth surveys of enterprises and banks to understand their exchange rate risk management and found problems like information mismatch and inadequate products, but more importantly, their views and awareness of exchange rate risk management, such as executives' low awareness of mitigating exchange rate risks. As a matter of fact, hedging against exchange rate risks is just like buying insurance that requires financial inputs. I also expect you to communicate our philosophy and guide more enterprises to establish accurate concepts on exchange rate risk management. Thank you. 2020-01-17 18:32:42 CRI of China Media Group: The SAFE has introduced many initiatives on reform and opening up in foreign exchange administration, particularly the 12 initiatives on promoting trade and investment facilitation, which has drawn wide attention. Could you brief us on the impact? Thank you. 2020-01-17 18:34:22 Wang Chunying: To implement the requirements of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on "adopting high-level trade and investment liberalization and facilitation policy" and of the State Council on pushing ahead with reforms that delegate power, improve regulation, and upgrade services and follow the guidelines of the executive meeting of the State Council, we introduced 12 initiatives on October 25, 2019. We have kept track of these initiatives and found relevant foreign exchange businesses have remained stable, facilitation has a significant impact, time and labor costs of enterprises have dramatically decreased, cross-border trade, investment and financing have become more convenient and business environment has been further optimized since the initiatives were released. The details are as follows: First, costs have been reduced to facilitate foreign exchange transactions. For example, according to pilot enterprises for revenue payment facilitation under the capital account, each foreign exchange settlement and payment for foreign currency capital can be completed on the same day, quicker than 2-3 days previously, and the time for preparation of authenticity materials has been shortened from 1-2 hours to several minutes. We have delegated the power to write off external debt to banks to pilot the cancellation of transaction-by-transaction registration of external debt, allowing enterprises to lock up the exchange rate for external debt as they wish, which has significantly reduced their financial costs. In addition, we have relaxed restrictions on foreign exchange settlement under the domestic asset realization account, giving enterprises more and stronger rights to make their own investment decisions, thus enabling them to improve their capital operation efficiency. Second, piloting has been expanded to allow facilitation policy to benefit more enterprises. The pilot program for facilitation of foreign exchange receipts and payments under trade simplifies document reviews, shortens the time banks spend on reviews and allows enterprises to interface their systems with the banking system and the cross-border foreign exchange payment system, enabling online transmission and transaction-by-transaction matching of ordering, customs declaration, receipts and payments information and shortening the time spent on each transaction to 10 minutes. As a result, the more creditable the enterprises are, the more conveniently they go through transactions. 192 enterprises from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shenzhen, Jiangsu, Ningbo, Shandong and Zhejiang have benefited since the rollout of the pilot program. 22,000 foreign exchange receipts worth USD 24.3 billion and 32,000 foreign exchange payments worth USD 20.5 billion have been handled since the kickoff of the pilot program. Further, the pilot program boosts banks to shift from ex-ante review to ex-post review, which has simplified the manual review processes while enabling banks to intensify surveys, assessment, and ongoing and ex-post verification of customers, thus improving banks' risk control capabilities. Third, initiatives have been implemented to support micro and small businesses and the BRI. Of the 12 initiatives, there is one about simplifying foreign exchange receipts and payments procedures under trade in goods for micro and small cross-border ecommerce players, which has effectively reduced costs for enterprises to visit foreign exchange authorities. The initiatives also allow engineering contractors to centralize the management of foreign funds, which can reduce funds transfers in and outside China. The combined use of funds under the overseas capital account can reduce cross-border receipts and payments, save capital costs like loan interests and exchange gains and losses, and help enterprises to put idle overseas funds to good use, which are all aligned with the government's policy orientation for foreign exchange. Fourth, the environment has been optimized to attract middle and long-term capital investments in China. As most foreign investors are not investment-oriented players, it is a bold step to allow them to make equity investment with capital funds in China in compliance with laws, which has optimized the business environment and helps facilitate foreign investors to expand investment in China and explore the Chinese market. Going forward, the SAFE will keep observing the impact of the 12 initiatives during execution and rollout, and addressing issues arising during implementation to further boost facilitation. 2020-01-17 18:35:09 Shou Xiaoli: Now I have to conclude today's press conference here. Allow me to say special thanks to chief economist Wang Chunying and to you all. 2020-01-17 18:35:42 (The original text is available on www.china.com.cn) 2020-01-17/en/2020/0117/1633.html
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The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has recently revised and issued the Measures for Administration of the Pilot Program on Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals (Huifa No. 6 [2020], "Measures"). SAFE Press Spokesperson and Chief Economist Wang Chunying answered media questions on relevant issues. 1. What is the background of the Measures? A: A pilot program on domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses for individuals ("exchange franchise business") was initiated in Beijing and Shanghai in 2008. In April 2012, the SAFE published the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issuing the Measures for Administration of the Pilot Program on Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals (Huifa No. 27, [2012]) to further expand the pilot program. Over the years, with its scope continuously expanded, the exchange franchise business has maintained stable growth. Featuring flexible service time, a large variety of currencies, small amount for exchange per transaction, and outlet location in transport hubs such as airports and ports, the exchange franchise business is a favorable complement to the bank exchange business to meet individuals' demands for exchange of domestic and foreign currencies. To improve administration of the exchange franchise businesses in line with the reform requirements of the State Council of delegating power, improving regulation, and upgrading services, the SAFE has revised the Measures for Administration of the Pilot Program on Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals based on its surveys and research, with no changes to the permitted scope of domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses for individuals and the administration principles of foreign exchange settlement and sales for individuals. Upholding easy access and rigorous regulation, the Measures will be favorable for reducing costs of institutions engaged in the domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses ("exchange franchise institution") and will have a positive impact on optimizing the business environment, guarding against financial risks and further facilitating domestic and foreign currency exchange for individuals. 2. How will the Measures facilitate business activities of exchange franchise institutions? A: first, the Measures will help streamline administrative approval. The approval for the qualification of exchange franchise institutions for nationwide operations will be delegated to the SAFE branches with whom they have registered. Approval for opening a foreign exchange reserve account by exchange franchise institutions and for preparation for market access by their branches/sub-branches will be canceled. Second, the Measures can help optimize processes. Exchange franchise institutions will be allowed to start electronic exchange business for individuals, sales and redemption of electronic travelers' cheques, and handle changes of business address after prior reporting. Third, the Measures will be conducive to license streamlining and offering convenience to the public. For market access, the supporting materials like business license and no-action letter will no longer be required from application institutions. 3. Will the Measures impact the domestic and foreign currency exchange businesses for individuals? A: No, it won't. According to the Measures, no change has been made to the existing administration principles for domestic and foreign currency exchange businesses for individuals. With their authentic ID certificates presented, individuals can easily handle domestic and foreign currency exchange through the business channels offered by exchange franchise institutions. 4. Are there any measures set forth in the Measures to guard against risks arising from cross-border flows such as money laundering? A: Following the reform requirements of the State Council of delegating power, improving regulation, and upgrading services, and the guideline of combining power delegation and stringent regulation, the revised Measures allows transfer of ex-ante approval for more administrative resources to enhanced ongoing and ex-post regulation. On the one hand, the Measures requires that exchange franchise institutions should build an effective mechanism for internal verification and correction, intensify monitoring and authentication of suspected exchange transactions that are cumulatively large-sized, and tighten management of customers handling unusual transactions, so as to prevent individuals from splitting its transactions through exchange franchise businesses and circumventing foreign exchange administration with fake certificates. On the other hand, the Measures requires local foreign exchange authorities to increase off-site and on-site verification of business activities of exchange franchise institutions within their jurisdictions and clarify scenarios where measures like risk reminder and rectification orders are implemented. (The end) 2020-02-19/en/2020/0219/1640.html
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人民银行海口中心支行牢牢把握政治机关属性，对标对表总行创建模范机关试点实施方案，紧扣做好“三个表率”，画好模范机关创建“三张图”，全面部署、扎实开展模范机关创建工作。 一、突出统筹指导，画好创建工作的“规划图” 制定《人民银行海口中心支行创建“让党中央放心、让人民群众满意的模范机关”工作实施方案》，聚焦政治过硬、组织坚强、履职有为、作风优良“四个模范”目标，坚持以上率下、以机关带辖区，逐级创建、全员覆盖，组织全辖以更明确的目标、更有力的行动开展模范机关创建，为推动辖区党的建设高质量发展、建设现代基层央行提供坚强保障。 二、突出组织落实，画好保障明确的“责任图” 组织实施做到“三明确”，即明确责任、明确分工、明确进度；实行“两纳入、两考核”，将创建模范机关工作纳入辖区各级党组织重要议事日程、纳入从严治党工作要点，并作为党的政治建设督查和基层党组织年度述职评议的重要内容进行督查考核。 三、突出海南特色，画好任务清晰的“施工图” 2020年是海南自贸港建设的开局之年，人民银行海口中心支行明确19项任务措施，推动全辖各级党组织紧密结合“我为加快推进海南自由贸易港建设作贡献”主题活动，聚焦疫情防控和企业复工复产的金融支持、防范化解重大金融风险攻坚战、海南自贸港建设等重点工作，强化党建工作与央行业务工作深度融合，以争先创优的工作实效践行“四个模范”。 2020-03-20/hainan/2020/0320/1130.html
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To boost orderly development of the domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses for individuals in compliance with regulations, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has recently revised and issued the Measures for Administration of the Pilot Program on Domestic and Foreign Currency Exchange Franchise Businesses for Individuals (Huifa No. 6 [2020], "Measures"). While ensuring the permitted scope of domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses for individuals and the administration principles of foreign exchange settlement and sales for individuals remain unchanged, the Measures is designed to refine relevant administration policies and facilitate domestic and foreign currency exchange by individuals. The highlights of the Measures are as follows: first, streamlining administrative approval. The approval for the qualification of franchise businesses for nationwide operations will be delegated to SAFE branches with whom they have registered. Approval for opening a foreign exchange reserve account by franchise institutions and for preparation for market access of their branches/sub-branches will be canceled. Market access-related supporting materials like business license and no-action letter will no longer be required. Second, optimizing processes. Franchise institutions will be allowed to start electronic exchange business for individuals, sales and redemption of electronic travelers' cheques, and handle changes of business address after prior reporting. Third, driving business innovation. Franchise institutions will be allowed to accept non-cash RMB funds paid by domestic individual customers in their names in exchange for foreign currency. Fourth, improving market entry and exit mechanisms. Market access requirements such as volume standards, technical conditions, credit of businesses and managers will be properly optimized. Fifth, tightening ongoing and ex-post regulation. Franchise institutions will be required to build effective risk control systems and intensify authenticity and compliance reviews. The Measures will come into force as of the date of issuance. 2020-02-19/en/2020/0219/1642.html