-
为进一步深化合格境外机构投资者和人民币合格境外机构投资者外汇管理改革，稳步推进金融市场对外开放，中国人民银行、国家外汇管理局修订了《境外机构投资者境内证券期货投资资金管理规定》，现予以公布，自2024年8月26日起实施。 附件：境外机构投资者境内证券期货投资资金管理规定 中国人民银行 国家外汇管理局 2024年7月26日 附件： 境外机构投资者境内证券期货投资资金管理规定 第一章 总则 第一条 为规范境外机构投资者境内证券期货投资管理，根据《中华人民共和国中国人民银行法》《中华人民共和国外汇管理条例》等相关法律法规，制定本规定。 第二条 本规定所称境外机构投资者，是指经中国证券监督管理委员会（以下简称中国证监会）批准，投资于境内证券期货市场的合格境外机构投资者和人民币合格境外机构投资者（以下简称合格投资者）。 第三条 合格投资者应当委托境内托管人（以下简称托管人）办理本规定所要求的相关手续。 合格投资者委托2家以上托管人的，应当指定1家托管人作为主报告人（仅有1家托管人的，默认该托管人为主报告人），负责为其办理业务登记等事项。 第四条 中国人民银行、国家外汇管理局及其分支机构依法对合格投资者的资金账户、资金收付及汇兑等实施监督、管理和检查。 第二章 登记管理 第五条 国家外汇管理局对合格投资者境内证券期货投资资金实行登记管理。 第六条 合格投资者取得中国证监会经营证券期货业务许可证后，应向主报告人提供以下材料，并通过主报告人在国家外汇管理局数字外管平台银行版资本项目相关模块办理业务登记： （一）经营证券期货业务许可证复印件。 （二）有关遵守中国关于合格投资者税收管理规定的承诺函。 第七条 合格投资者名称发生变更的，应在取得中国证监会换发的经营证券期货业务许可证后30个工作日内，通过主报告人办理变更登记。 主报告人发生变更的，合格投资者应自变更之日起30个工作日内通过新的主报告人办理变更登记。 主报告人以外的托管人等其他重要信息发生变更的，合格投资者应自变更之日起30个工作日内通过主报告人办理变更登记。 第八条 主报告人应认真履行职责，严格审核合格投资者所提供材料的真实性，办理业务登记或变更登记后将相关登记凭证反馈合格投资者。 第三章 账户和汇兑管理 第九条 合格投资者应凭业务登记凭证，根据投资和资金汇入需要，在托管人处开立一个或多个合格投资者专用账户。合格投资者相关投资本金和收益等跨境汇出汇入，应统一通过合格投资者专用账户在托管人处办理。 合格投资者仅汇入外币资金的，须开立外币专用账户及与外币专用账户相对应的人民币专用存款账户；仅汇入人民币资金的，须开立人民币专用存款账户；同时汇入人民币和外币资金的，须分别开立人民币专用存款账户、外币专用账户及与外币专用账户相对应的人民币专用存款账户，两类人民币专用存款账户的命名应予以有效区分，且不得相互划转资金。 第十条 合格投资者可自主选择汇入币种开展境内证券期货投资。合格投资者汇入外币进行投资的，结汇后应划入其与外币专用账户相对应的人民币专用存款账户，投资本金和收益可以外币或人民币汇出。合格投资者汇入人民币进行投资的，应直接汇入其人民币专用存款账户，投资本金和收益应以人民币汇出。 第十一条 合格投资者外币专用账户的收入范围：合格投资者从境外汇入的本金及支付有关税费（税款、托管费、审计费、管理费等）所需外币资金，外币利息收入，开展外汇衍生产品交易相关资金划入，境内办理结售汇相关资金划入，同名中国债券市场投资专用资金账户内资金划入，同名合格投资者专用账户内资金相互划转，从与外币专用账户相对应的人民币专用存款账户购汇划入的资金，以及符合中国人民银行和国家外汇管理局规定的其他收入。 合格投资者外币专用账户的支出范围：结汇划入与外币专用账户相对应的人民币专用存款账户，开展外汇衍生产品交易相关资金划出，向境外汇出本金及收益，境内办理结售汇相关资金划出，向同名中国债券市场投资专用资金账户划出，同名合格投资者专用账户内资金相互划转，支付托管费，以及符合中国人民银行和国家外汇管理局规定的其他支出。 第十二条 合格投资者人民币专用存款账户的收入范围：从合格投资者外币专用账户结汇划入的资金或从境外汇入的人民币投资本金，出售证券期货所得价款、现金股利、利息收入，开展外汇衍生产品交易相关资金划入，境内办理结售汇相关资金划入，同名中国债券市场投资专用资金账户内资金划入，同名合格投资者专用账户内资金相互划转，以及符合中国人民银行和国家外汇管理局规定的其他收入。 合格投资者人民币专用存款账户的支出范围：支付证券期货投资价款（含印花税、手续费等），购汇划入合格投资者外币专用账户或以人民币汇出投资本金和收益，开展外汇衍生产品交易相关资金划出，境内办理结售汇相关资金划出，支付税款、托管费、审计费和管理费等相关税费，向同名中国债券市场投资专用资金账户划出，同名合格投资者专用账户内资金相互划转，以及符合中国人民银行和国家外汇管理局规定的其他支出。 第十三条 合格投资者开立相关境内人民币银行结算账户，应按照中国人民银行关于境外机构境内人民币银行结算账户管理的有关规定办理。合格投资者所开立相关账户不得支取现金，账户内的资金存款利率参照中国人民银行有关规定执行。 第十四条 同一境外机构投资者的合格投资者专用账户内资金与中国债券市场投资专用资金账户内资金，可根据境内投资需要，在境内直接双向划转，后续交易及资金使用、汇兑等遵循划转后渠道的相关管理要求。 第十五条 合格投资者办理相关资金汇出手续，托管人可凭合格投资者书面申请或指令为其办理。如涉及清盘（含产品清盘），合格投资者还需向托管人提供中国注册会计师出具的投资收益专项审计报告、税务备案表（按规定无需提供的除外）等文件。清盘相关手续完成后，托管人可为其办理关闭账户。 第十六条 合格投资者开展境内人民币对外汇衍生产品交易，应遵循实需交易和套期保值原则，管理境内证券期货投资所产生的外汇风险敞口。 第十七条 境外银行类合格投资者可选择下列一种渠道开展即期结售汇和外汇衍生产品交易： （一）作为客户与托管人或境内其他金融机构直接交易。 （二）申请成为中国外汇交易中心（以下简称外汇交易中心）会员直接进入银行间外汇市场交易。 （三）申请成为外汇交易中心会员通过主经纪业务进入银行间外汇市场交易。 第十八条 境外非银行类合格投资者可选择下列一种渠道开展即期结售汇和外汇衍生产品交易： （一）作为客户与托管人或境内其他金融机构直接交易。 （二）申请成为外汇交易中心会员通过主经纪业务进入银行间外汇市场交易。 第十九条 合格投资者开展境内即期结售汇、期货和衍生品等交易，凭业务登记凭证，可根据相应结算规则开立专项用于相关资金境内划转的专用资金账户。合格投资者开展以境内证券为合约标的物的期货或衍生品交易，还应遵守中国人民银行和中国证监会相关管理规定。 第二十条 合格投资者选择第十七条第一项、第十八条第一项规定的方式开展即期结售汇和外汇衍生产品交易的，应自行或通过托管人将金融机构名单向外汇交易中心备案；调整金融机构的，应向外汇交易中心备案。 第二十一条 合格投资者开展外汇衍生产品交易，应遵照以下规定： （一）外汇衍生产品敞口与外汇风险敞口具有合理的相关度。外汇风险敞口为境内证券期货投资对应的人民币资产规模。 （二）当证券期货投资发生变化而导致外汇风险敞口变化时，应及时对相应持有的外汇衍生产品敞口进行调整。 （三）根据外汇风险管理的实际需要，可灵活选择展期、反向平仓、全额或差额结算等交易机制，并以人民币或外币结算损益。 （四）首次开展外汇衍生产品交易前，合格投资者应向境内金融机构或外汇交易中心提交遵守套期保值原则的书面承诺。 第二十二条 合格投资者因机构解散、进入破产程序、由接管人接管或自身原因等导致中国证监会注销其业务许可证的，应在变现资产并关闭合格投资者专用账户后30个工作日内通过主报告人办理注销登记。 第四章 统计与监督管理 第二十三条 托管人在为合格投资者办理资金汇出汇入时，应对相应的资金收付进行真实性与合规性审查，并切实履行反洗钱和反恐怖融资等义务。合格投资者应配合托管人履行以上义务，并向托管人提供真实完整的资料和信息。 第二十四条 托管人、相关境内金融机构等应按照《人民币银行结算账户管理办法》（中国人民银行令〔2003〕第5号发布）、《人民币跨境收付信息管理系统管理办法》（银发〔2017〕126号文印发）、《中国人民银行办公厅关于完善人民币跨境收付信息管理系统银行间业务数据报送流程的通知》（银办发〔2017〕118号）等相关规定，报送合格投资者相关信息数据。 第二十五条 合格投资者、托管人、相关境内金融机构等应按照《通过银行进行国际收支统计申报业务实施细则》（汇发〔2022〕22号文印发）、《通过银行进行国际收支统计申报业务指引（2023年版）》（汇发〔2023〕10号文印发）、《对外金融资产负债及交易统计制度》（汇发〔2021〕36号文印发）、《金融机构外汇业务数据采集规范（1.3版）》（汇发〔2022〕13号文印发）等相关规定，报送相关信息数据。 第二十六条 境内金融机构为合格投资者办理即期结售汇和外汇衍生产品业务，应履行以下统计义务： （一）依照本规定第十七条第一项、第十八条第一项规定的方式为合格投资者办理即期结售汇和外汇衍生产品业务的，应按照《银行结售汇统计制度》（汇发〔2019〕26号文印发），作为对客户即期结售汇业务和外汇衍生产品业务向国家外汇管理局履行统计和报告义务，并按照外汇交易中心规定每日报送合格投资者即期结售汇和外汇衍生产品交易信息。 （二）依照本规定第十七条第二项、第三项和第十八条第二项规定的方式与合格投资者开展即期交易和外汇衍生产品交易的，应纳入银行间外汇市场交易统计，按照外汇交易中心规定报送有关交易信息，无需向国家外汇管理局报送银行结售汇统计数据。 第二十七条 境内金融机构依照本规定第十七条第一项、第十八条第一项规定的方式为合格投资者办理即期结售汇和外汇衍生产品业务的，若使用本机构内部交易系统以外的第三方交易系统、平台或设施，应符合有关监管规定。 第二十八条 合格投资者、托管人、相关境内金融机构有以下行为之一的，依据《中华人民共和国中国人民银行法》和《中华人民共和国外汇管理条例》等法律法规予以处罚： （一）未按规定办理业务登记的。 （二）未按规定办理资金结售汇、收付汇或资金汇出汇入的。 （三）未按规定办理账户开立或关闭，或未按规定使用账户的。 （四）未按规定办理外汇衍生产品业务的。 （五）未按规定报告信息和数据，或报告的信息和数据内容不完整、不真实，或提供虚假材料、数据或证明等。 （六）未按规定进行国际收支统计申报及有关结售汇统计报告的。 第五章 附则 第二十九条 合格投资者根据本规定提供的材料应为中文文本。同时具有外文和中文译文的，以中文文本为准。 第三十条 本规定由中国人民银行和国家外汇管理局负责解释。 第三十一条 本规定自2024年8月26日起实施。《境外机构投资者境内证券期货投资资金管理规定》（中国人民银行 国家外汇管理局公告〔2020〕第2号公布）同时废止。其他相关跨境资金管理规定与本规定不一致的，以本规定为准。 2024-07-26/liaoning/2024/0726/2297.html
-
国家外汇管理局各省、自治区、直辖市、计划单列市分局，银联国际有限公司、连通（杭州）技术服务有限公司、万事网联信息技术（北京）有限公司，各全国性中资商业银行： 为便利个人使用境内银行卡跨境交易，完善银行卡外汇业务管理，现就更新境内银行卡在境外使用的商户类别码（MCC）分类管理有关事项通知如下： 一、增补345个商户类别码（见附件），与《国家外汇管理局关于规范银行外币卡管理的通知》（汇发〔2010〕53号，以下简称53号文）附件《境内银行卡在境外使用的商户类别码》共同构成现行有效的商户类别码分类目录。 二、境内银行卡清算机构和发卡金融机构应按照53号文规定，严格落实境内银行卡境外交易分类管理，按照现行有效商户类别码分类目录在业务系统中做好设置，不得授权和清算商户类别码分类目录以外的其他交易。其中，境内银行卡清算机构授权发行的银行卡由境内银行卡清算机构统一在其业务系统内设置；境外银行卡清算机构授权发行的银行卡由各境内发卡金融机构在其业务系统内设置。 三、境内银行卡清算机构调整自身商户类别码，应在调整生效前30天向国家外汇管理局书面报告有关情况。对于境外银行卡清算机构调整商户类别码，由中国银行、中国工商银行、招商银行在调整生效前30天向国家外汇管理局书面报告。国家外汇管理局根据商户类别码调整情况，更新和发布境内银行卡在境外使用的商户类别码分类目录。 以上所称调整商户类别码，是指新增、停用商户类别码，或商户类别码的定义发生变化等。 四、本通知自2024年5月1日起实施。各境内银行卡清算机构和发卡金融机构应按照本通知要求及时完成自身业务系统调整。 国家外汇管理局各省、自治区、直辖市、计划单列市分局接到本通知后，应立即转发辖内地市分局、城市商业银行、农村商业银行、外商独资银行、中外合资银行、外国银行分行、农村合作金融机构、村镇银行。执行中如遇问题，请及时向国家外汇管理局国际收支司反馈。联系电话：010-68402309、68402593。 特此通知。 附件：境内银行卡在境外使用的商户类别码（新增345个） 国家外汇管理局综合司 2024年3月15日 2024-03-22/liaoning/2024/0322/2290.html
-
国家外汇管理局各省、自治区、直辖市、计划单列市分局，各全国性中资银行： 为进一步优化资本项目外汇业务管理，提升跨境投融资便利化水平，精简业务流程，便利机构、个人等主体资本项目外汇业务办理，国家外汇管理局制定了《资本项目外汇业务指引（2024年版）》（见附件），现予印发，请遵照执行。 本通知自2024年5月6日起施行。《国家外汇管理局综合司关于印发〈资本项目外汇业务指引（2020年版）〉的通知》（汇综发〔2020〕89号）同时废止，以往文件所涉资本项目外汇业务操作规定与本通知不符的，以本通知为准。 国家外汇管理局各省、自治区、直辖市、计划单列市分局接到本通知后，应及时转发辖内分局、城市商业银行、农村商业银行、外资银行、农村合作银行。执行中如遇问题，请及时向国家外汇管理局资本项目管理司反馈。 特此通知。 附件：资本项目外汇业务指引(2024年版) 国家外汇管理局 2024年4月3日 2024-04-12/liaoning/2024/0412/2293.html
-
为推进辖内跨国公司跨境资金集中运营管理，持续释放政策红利，外汇局云南省分局于12月16日组织辖内11家银行和6家跨国公司召开资金池业务政策传导会。 会上，银行和企业代表就当前资金池运营情况、业务诉求及实际操作中遇到的问题等交流发言。云南省分局对现有资金池政策、高版本资金池试点政策进行宣传解读，逐一解答银行和企业提出的问题，并从事后监管角度提出工作要求。 下一步，云南省分局将持续跟踪评估辖内跨国公司现有资金池政策执行情况，积极做好政策宣传辅导，稳步推进辖内跨国公司跨境资金集中运营管理扩面提质，助力企业提升跨境资金统筹使用效率，为区域经济高质量发展提供有力支撑。 2024-12-19/yunnan/2024/1219/1335.html
-
为进一步规范外汇局系统行政复议案件办理工作，保护公民、法人和其他组织的合法权益，根据《中华人民共和国行政复议法》《中华人民共和国行政复议法实施条例》及《中华人民共和国外汇管理条例》等相关法律法规，国家外汇管理局修订了《国家外汇管理局行政复议程序》（见附件），现予公布，自公布之日起施行。 附件：国家外汇管理局行政复议程序 国家外汇管理局 2024年4月18日 2024-04-26/liaoning/2024/0426/2295.html
-
附件：现行有效外汇管理主要法规目录（截至2024年6月30日） 2024-07-30/liaoning/2024/0730/2298.html
-
The branches of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and cities under separate state planning; and all national Chinese-funded banks: In order to thoroughly implement the decisions and deployment made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, further facilitate cross-border trade and investment, and effectively enhance the role of foreign exchange administration in serving the real economy, the SAFE has decided to further deepen the reforms of foreign exchange administration, facilitate market entities to handle cross-border trade and investment businesses in compliance with regulations, and promote high-quality development through high-level opening-up. The relevant matters concerned are hereby notified as follows: I. Facilitation of foreign exchange receipts and payments for trade i. Optimizing foreign exchange administration on market procurement trade. When a market entity engaged in market procurement trade that commissions a third party for export declaration handles foreign exchange collection in its name, it shall meet the following conditions: 1. The market entity engaged in market procurement trade has registered on the online platform for market procurement trade established by the local government. The online platform for market procurement trade shall be able to collect information throughout the transaction and export processes and provide detailed export data corresponding to enterprises and individual industrial and commercial households. 2. The bank that handles the foreign exchange collection for the market entity shall connect its system with the online platform for market procurement trade or adopt other necessary technical means such as logging into the webpage of the online platform for market procurement trade to identify the customer’s identity, verify the authenticity of the transaction background, and prevent the reuse of transaction information. ii. Relaxing requirements for the netting settlement of balances in processing trade. When a bank handles the settlement of funds for an enterprise’s counterparty foreign exchange collection and payment for imported materials processing trade, i.e., the netting settlement in export payment and payment for imported materials and parts, the bank shall ensure that the following conditions are met: 1. The enterprise shall purchase materials and parts from an overseas counterparty for processing, and then sell the finished products to the same overseas counterparty. 2. Before the enterprise carries out the foreign exchange collection and payment deduction for the imported materials processing trade, it shall present relevant materials to the bank for explanation, and the bank shall add the “enterprise for counterparty foreign exchange collection and payment deduction on imported materials processing trade” label in the entity identification function of the foreign exchange monitoring system for trade in goods. 3. The enterprises shall reasonably schedule the netting cycle and settle accounts receivable and payable in a timely manner. In principle, netting settlements shall be made no less than once per quarter. The banks shall review the authenticity and reasonableness of businesses in accordance with the principles of business development, handle the foreign exchange collection and payment deduction in imported materials processing trade for enterprises identified as “enterprises for counterparty foreign exchange collection and payment deduction in imported materials processing trade”, and process the declaration of actual receipt and payment data and restored data as required (see Annex 1 for declaration requirements). iii. Improving the collection and payment of cross-border trade funds under entrusted agents. If an agent is unable to handle the collection and payment of foreign exchange for trade in goods due to bankruptcy, frozen bank accounts or other situations, the bank can handle the collection and payment of foreign exchange for trade in goods prudently for the entrusting party after confirming the authenticity and reasonableness of the receipts and payments in accordance with the business development principle, and mark “non-customs declarant + foreign exchange receipt and payment for the entrusting party + XXX (name of the agent)” in the remarks of the foreign-related receipts and payments declaration transaction. iv. Facilitating the settlement of foreign exchange funds for commercial leasing business of domestic institutions. When a domestic institution (hereinafter referred to as the “lessee”) uses its foreign exchange income to pay rent in foreign currency for domestically rented commercial items (including aircraft, ships, and large equipment) to a domestic leasing company (hereinafter referred to as the “lessor”), it shall meet the following conditions: 1. The lessee has a stable source of foreign exchange income in a certain scale; the lessee’s annual rent payment in foreign currency shall in principle be no less than the equivalent of US$100 million, and the expenditure needs shall be reasonable; the lessee has been included on the list of high-quality enterprises in the facilitation of foreign exchange receipts and payments for trade. 2. More than 50% of the lessor’s funds for purchasing the leased property come from its debt in foreign currency, or the lessor has rented the leased property from abroad and needs to pay rent in foreign currency for the leased property. In principle, the foreign currency rental income collected by the lessor shall not be used for foreign exchange settlement (except for the payment of domestic taxes, cancellation, or liquidation), but it can be used to pay oversea rent, pay foreign currency debts, make payments for items rented overseas, or pay other foreign exchange expenses in compliance with the regulations of the SAFE. The banks shall follow the principles of business development and handle foreign currency rent transfer business for domestically rented commercial items after reviewing the authenticity and reasonableness of the business. The lessee shall fill in the commercial lease contract number in the Domestic Remittance Application or other transaction remarks columns and indicate “Payment of Rent in Foreign Currency”; the lessor shall fill in the commercial lease contract number in the transaction remarks column of the Domestic Income Declaration and indicate “Collection of Rent in Foreign Currency.” II. Expansion of facilitation policies for capital accounts v. Promoting the policy on pilots for the facilitation of cross-border financing across China. Technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) shall be included as business entities in the pilot for the facilitation of cross-border financing to further support the technological innovation of SMEs. Qualified high-tech, professional, refined, specific, novel, and technology-based SMEs within the jurisdictions of Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong (including Qingdao), Hubei, Guangdong (including Shenzhen), Sichuan, Shaanxi, Beijing, Chongqing, Zhejiang (including Ningbo), Anhui, Hunan and Hainan can independently borrow foreign debts within the equivalent limit of US$10 million. Qualified high-tech, professional, refined, specific, novel and technology-based SMEs in other regions can independently borrow foreign debts up to an equivalent amount of US$5 million (see Annex 2 for implementation details). vi. Relaxing restrictions on the scale of upfront expenses for overseas direct investment (ODI). The restriction that the cumulative remittance of upfront expenses for the overseas direct investment by domestic enterprises shall not exceed the equivalent of US$3 million shall be lifted, while the cumulative remittance shall not exceed 15% of the total proposed investment by China. vii. Facilitating the payment and use of equity transfer funds and funds raised from overseas listings under the category of domestic reinvestment made by foreign direct investment (FDI). The asset realization accounts under the capital account shall be changed into settlement accounts under the capital account (see Annex 3 for the relevant account consolidation plan). Domestic equity transferors (including institutions and individuals) can, when receiving equity transfer consideration funds paid in foreign currency by domestic entities and foreign exchange funds raised by domestic enterprises from overseas listings, directly remit the funds to the settlement accounts under the capital account. The funds in the settlement accounts under the capital account can be settled and used independently. Domestic equity transferors can, when receiving equity transfer consideration funds paid by foreign-invested enterprises with funds in RMB obtained from foreign exchange settlement (i.e. from direct foreign exchange settlement income or RMB funds in the account to be paid for foreign exchange settlement), directly transfer the funds to the RMB accounts of the domestic equity transferors. III. Optimization of foreign exchange administration under the capital account viii. Improving the management of negative lists on the use of capital account revenues. Non-financial enterprises shall follow the principles of authenticity and self-use in the use of their capital funds, foreign exchange income under foreign debts and RMB funds obtained from their foreign exchange settlements, and shall not directly or indirectly use such funds for expenditures prohibited by Chinese laws and regulations; unless otherwise expressly specified, such funds shall not be used directly or indirectly for portfolio investments or other investment and wealth management (except for wealth management products and structured deposits with a risk rating of not higher than Level 2); such funds shall not be used to issue loans to non-affiliated enterprises (except for the scenarios expressly permitted in the business scope and the following four areas -- the Lin-gang Special Area of Shanghai China Pilot Free Trade Zone, Guangzhou, Nansha New Area of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Yangpu Economic Development Zone of the China (Hainan) Free Trade Port, and the Beilun District of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province).; and such funds shall not be used for purchase of residential properties that are not for self-use (except for enterprises engaged in real estate development or real estate leasing operations). ix. Canceling the approval requirement for opening foreign debt accounts in other regions. Non-financial enterprises with reasonable needs are allowed to open foreign debt accounts at banks in regions outside the jurisdictions of the foreign exchange administration branches where those enterprises were registered. Banks are encouraged to include more high-quality enterprises in the pilot initiatives for the facilitation of capital account income payments. Efforts shall be made to further diversify cross-border investment and financing products and exchange rate risk management products based on the actual needs of enterprises, and optimize business processes. Efforts shall be made to ensure that due diligence of clients is properly done in accordance with the principle of business development. Technological means shall be leveraged to enhance post-hoc monitoring, and more accessible and efficient cross-border fund settlement services for authentic and compliant cross-border investment and financing shall be provided. And any abnormal or suspicious cases shall be reported in a timely manner. All branches shall strengthen in-process and post-hoc supervision, verification, and inspection of the above-mentioned businesses, and guide banks and enterprises to conduct business in compliance with relevant regulations. This Notice shall be implemented from the date of issuance (Item vii shall be implemented from June 3, 2024). If any previous regulations are inconsistent with this Notice, this Notice shall prevail. (i.e. See Annex 4 for specific revised provisions). After receiving this Notice, all provincial (municipal) branches of the SAFE shall promptly forward it to prefecture (city)-level branches, urban commercial banks, rural commercial banks, foreign-funded banks, and rural cooperative banks within their respective jurisdictions. Annexes: 1. Declaration Requirements for the Netting Settlement of Balances in Processing Trade 2. Detailed Implementation Rules for the Facilitation of Cross-border Financing 3. Plan for the Settlement Account Consolidation of Capital Accounts 4. Selected Provisions in Four Normative Documents on Foreign Exchange Administration as Amended by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) The State Administration of Foreign Exchange December 4, 2023 2023-12-08/en/2023/1208/2262.html
-
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has recently issued the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Deepening Reforms and Facilitating Cross-border Trade and Investment (Huifa [2023] No. 28, hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”). SAFE Deputy Administrator and Press Spokesperson Wang Chunying answered media questions on relevant contents of the Notice. Q: What is the background for the issuance of the Notice? A: Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the SAFE has placed equal emphasis on development and security , consistently advanced reforms and opening up in the foreign exchange sector, and promoted facilitation of cross-border trade, investment, and financing. In practice, we have noticed that the vigorous development of new business forms and new modes of foreign trade and the increasing diversification of cross-border investment and financing activities have generated new and heightened demands among market participants for facilitation of foreign exchange services. To thoroughly implement the arrangements and demands of the Central Financial Work Conference that “the financial sector shall provide high-quality services for economic and social development”, the SAFE has conducted in-depth research on market appeals, thoroughly summarized previous pilot experience, and systematically reviewed foreign exchange administration policies related to the trade and foreign exchange receipts and payments, cross-border financing for technology-based enterprises, and foreign direct investment. Building upon this groundwork, the SAFE has issued the Notice which includes nine policies and measures to further deepen reforms in foreign exchange administration and promote the facilitation of cross-border trade and investment. Q: What are the policy principles outlined in the Notice? A: The Notice puts forward the following key policy principles. On a macro level, our goal is to strengthen and refine the policy supply in the field of foreign exchange, and enhance comprehensive policy integration. Specifically, we aim to deepen reforms and opening up in the facilitation of transactions related to both the current account and the capital account. Meanwhile, we will continuously enhance the dual management framework of the foreign exchange market, combining macro-prudential measures with micro-regulation. These endeavors will contribute to the construction of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics. On a micro level, our focus is on actively promoting stability in foreign trade and foreign investment. This involves further streamlining foreign exchange management, shortening procedures of related cross-border businesses, and facilitating market participants in complying with regulations when handling cross-border trade and investment businesses. Through these initiatives, we aim to effectively boost market vitality and better serve the high-quality development of the real economy. Q: What specific measures does the Notice introduce to facilitate cross-border trade? A: The Notice has introduced four measures to facilitate cross-border trade. Firstly, optimizing foreign exchange administration on market procurement trade. The banks can utilize online platforms for market procurement to facilitate foreign exchange receipts and payments for market procurement merchants through various channels. Secondly, relaxing requirements for the netting settlement of balances in processing trade. The banks can handle the settlement of funds for enterprises’ counterparty foreign exchange collection and payment for imported materials processing trade. Thirdly, improving the collection and payment of cross-border trade funds under entrusted agents. When an agent is unable to handle the collection and payment of foreign exchange for trade in goods due to a special circumstance, the bank can handle the collection and payment of foreign exchange for trade in goods for the entrusting party. Fourthly, facilitating the settlements of foreign exchange funds for commercial leasing business of domestic institutions. Domestic institutions meeting the relevant conditions can use their foreign exchange incomes to pay rent for domestically rented commercial items to domestic leasing companies. Q: What is the main objective of optimizing the management of foreign exchange in market procurement trade, as outlined in the Notice? A: The main objective of optimizing the management of foreign exchange in market procurement trade is two-fold. Firstly, we aim to support the innovative development of new business formats such as market procurement and facilitate online foreign exchange receipts and payments for market procurement merchants who rely on third-party customs clearance. Secondly, more banks are encouraged to provide foreign exchange settlement services for market procurement trade. We support banks to flexibly leverage information from online platforms for market procurement trade by aligning with their customers' business needs, their IT infrastructures and other actual situations, provide more convenient foreign exchange receipt and payment services for market procurement merchants, and enhance their fund settlement efficiency. This may also assist the banks in reducing system development costs. Q: The Central Financial Work Conference has underscored the significance of offering financial support for new technologies, new arenas, and emerging markets. What specific implementation measures does the Notice introduce in this regard? A: Based on our research, we have identified that some technology-based enterprises in their initial stages are faced with challenges in obtaining cross-border financing due to limited net assets and other difficulties. To address this issue, the SAFE has been continuously enhancing and refining foreign exchange policy provisions for technology innovation since 2018. We have introduced facilitation policies for cross-border financing, specifically targeting high-tech enterprises and enterprises that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products. These policies allow such enterprises to autonomously borrow foreign debts within specified limits, thereby significantly reducing their financing costs. The Notice has upgraded the policies for facilitating cross-border financing in terms of the scope of eligible entities, pilot regions, and pilot quotas. Firstly, in addition to high-tech enterprises and enterprises that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products, technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been included as eligible entities for the pilot program, aiming to support their innovative development. Secondly, the policy coverage has expanded nationwide, extending beyond the previous 17 provinces and cities. Thirdly, the quota for the initial 17 provinces and cities under the facilitation has been raised to US$10 million, and rest regions are provisionally allocated a quota equivalent to USD5 million. These measures aim to facilitate cross-border financing for high-tech companies, enterprises that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products, as well as technology-based SMEs, while also safeguarding against corporate debt risks. Q: Which policies outlined in the Notice are beneficial for foreign-invested enterprises to expand and operate their businesses in China? A: In recent years, the SAFE has consistently streamlined procedures and processes, making it easier for foreign-invested enterprises to conduct business under the capital account. In 2020, a nationwide reform was introduced to facilitate receipts and payments under the capital account. Eligible enterprises were no longer required to provide authenticity certification documents to banks in advance on a per-transaction basis when utilizing capital funds, foreign debt funds, and other capital account receipts for domestic payments. Starting in 2022, pilot programs have been initiated in four areas, i.e. the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, where foreign-invested enterprises are exempted from registration procedures for domestic re-investment activities. To further facilitate the foreign exchange receipts and payments of foreign-invested enterprises, the Notice has clarified that the original asset realization account will be transformed into the settlement account under the capital account, allowing enterprises to freely utilize the funds for foreign exchange settlement. These funds primarily include foreign direct investment, domestic re-investment, funds received by domestic equity transferors from overseas direct investment as consideration for equity transfer, and foreign exchange funds raised by domestic enterprises through overseas listings. Going forward, in accordance with enterprise needs, the SAFE will include more funds into this account in an orderly manner, thereby facilitating the utilization of funds by enterprises. Q: What are the main considerations of the Notice in canceling the approval requirement for opening foreign debt accounts in other regions? A: Streamlining the use of corporate external debt accounts has proven to enhance businesses' efficiency in utilizing cross-border funds. In April 2022, the PBOC and the SAFE jointly issued a Notice on Strengthening Financial Services for COVID-19 Containment and Socio-Economic Development. The notice allows non-financial enterprises to use a single foreign debt account for multiple external debts and supports online applications for foreign debt registration, which further simplifies the management of foreign debt accounts. The implementation of these measures have facilitated the use of foreign debt accounts and received widespread recognition from market participants. Building upon this foundation, the Notice further eliminated the approval requirement for opening accounts for foreign debt in different places. It allows market entities to open foreign debt accounts in banks in different places based on their actual needs, which will facilitate the utilization of foreign debt accounts and reduce “foot-cost” for enterprises. 2023-12-08/en/2023/1208/2260.html
-
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has recently released data on foreign exchange settlement and sales by banks as well as cross-border receipts and payments by non-banking sectors for November 2023. The SAFE Deputy Administrator and Press Spokesperson Wang Chunying answered media questions on the relevant issues. Q: Could you brief us on the changes in China’s foreign exchange receipts and payments for November 2023? A: In November, China’s foreign exchange market remained stable and continued to show signs of improvement, with generally balanced cross-border capital flows. The foreign-related receipts and payments by non-banking sectors, including enterprises and individuals, are in equilibrium, fostering an overall trend of balanced cross-border capital flows. Amid the RMB appreciation, some enterprises exhibited a rational trading pattern by purchasing foreign exchange at lower exchange rates. In the overall, foreign exchange market expectations and transactions remained in a stable and orderly manner. Major channels of cross-border capital flows witnessed heightened stability, with a noteworthy rise in foreign investments directed to the Chinese bond market. Under the current account, the net inflow of cross-border capital in China’s trade in goods remained roughly flat. Expenditures related to cross-border travel and other service trade and profit repatriation by foreign-invested enterprises gradually declined from the seasonal peaks observed in July and August, indicating a shift towards increased stability. Under the capital account, specifically under securities investments, there was an overall recovery in the net inflow of foreign capital. Notably, foreign investors are increasingly and consistently showing a preference for allocating funds to RMB-denominated bonds. Over the past few months, foreign investors have steadily increased their holdings of China’s bonds, reaching a significant milestone in November with a net increase of USD 33 billion - the second-highest value recorded in history. With improvements in both the internal and external environments, China’s foreign exchange market is poised to have a stronger foundation and conditions to sustain stable operations in the future. Internally, China’s economic rebound and its fundamentals for long-term sound growth remain unchanged. This will bolster support for stable cross-border capital flows. Externally, the market anticipates that the Federal Reserve is approaching the conclusion of its interest rate hike cycle. Going forward, there might be a gradual transition to interest rate cuts, potentially resulting in an overall decline in both US dollar interest rates and exchange rates. In general, the favorable conditions supporting China’s economic development outweigh the unfavorable factors, laying a more solid foundation for the stability of the Chinese foreign exchange market. 2023-12-15/en/2023/1215/2259.html
-
In 2022, China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) launched high-level opening-up pilot program for cross-border trade and investment in four regions, including Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Nansha New Area of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Yangpu Economic Development Zone in Hainan Province, and Beilun District of Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province. Since the initiation of the pilot program, it has produced positive outcomes by effectively managing risks while fostering the development of foreign-related businesses in the pilot regions. According to the arrangements of the central financial work conference, the SAFE has made the decision to expand the pilot regions to include Shanghai City, Jiangsu Province, Guangdong Province (including Shenzhen City), Beijing City, Zhejiang Province (including Ningbo City), and Hainan Province (collectively referred to as the pilot regions) to further facilitate cross-border trade, investment, and financing. The expansion of high-level opening-up pilot program is based on a comprehensive review of the pilot experience. The effective foreign exchange facilitation policies and measures implemented in earlier pilot program will be replicated and promoted in the extended pilot regions. A total of eight policies will be implemented for the trial expansion. Specifically, five pilot policies are issued concerning the current account, including facilitating the receipts and payments of foreign exchange under the current account, supporting new types of international trade settlements, expanding the scope of netting settlement of balances in trade, exempting special foreign exchange refund from registration, and enhancing the management of payments on behalf of another party or apportionment business under trade in services. Meanwhile, three pilot policies are issued concerning the capital account, including foreign-invested enterprises being exempt from registration when reinvesting in China, the financial leasing parent company and its subsidiaries being permitted to share their external debt quotas, and foreign exchange registration for foreign debt, overseas listing, and other capital-related businesses being handled directly by banks. The SAFE bureaus in the pilot regions will further formulate and implement detailed rules and regulations to facilitate compliance in business operations for banks and enterprises. The SAFE will make continuous efforts to enhance high-quality financial services and facilitate cross-border trade, investment, and financing to promote high-quality development by high-level opening-up. Furthermore, it will continue to coordinate financial openness and security, enhance the capabilities of regulatory systems in the context of increased openness, and take a holistic approach to plan and advance the reform and opening-up while addressing potential risks. In doing so, the SAFE firmly upholds the bottom line of preventing systemic financial risks from occurring. 2023-12-15/en/2023/1215/2261.html