Trade war will not derail China’s promise to open up its financial markets, central bank chief says
Road maps, timetables ‘already very clear’ and will be implemented, People’s Bank of China governor Yi Gang tells economists’ forum
China is committed to opening up its financial services markets to foreign players irrespective of the trade war with the United States, the head of its central bank said on Sunday, countering claims it had suspended licence applications as a result of the dispute.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) would “implement” agreed plans for the move, governor Yi Gang told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Beijing, which was also attended by Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He.
“Our road maps and timetables for financial opening are already very clear, and we will just implement them,” he said.
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Yi was speaking at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the China Economists 50 Forum, an independent think tank of which he and Liu are members.
His comments came amid suggestions from industry groups that because of its escalating trade war with the US Beijing had become more cautious about opening up its markets.
Jacob Parker, vice-president of China operations at the US-China Business Council (USCBC) – a group representing about 200 American companies that do business with China – was quoted by Associated Press last week as saying there had been significant delays in the issuing of licences to foreign firms in sectors such as banking, securities, insurance and asset management.
Cabinet-level Chinese officials told USCBC representatives they were putting off accepting applications “until the trajectory of the US-China relationship improves and stabilises”, he said.
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Aside from his speech, Yi said in an article presented to the forum that China still had a long way to go to achieve a “deep and global financial market” and that there were still “gaps” to fill in its plans for opening up.
Beijing also needed to “improve the business environment” for foreign financial institutions in China, the article said.
On the value of the yuan, Yi wrote that China would give the market a greater role in establishing a two-way exchange rate.
US-China trade war is helping to boost use of yuan in international transactions
President Xi Jinping in April extended an olive branch to Wall Street and other global capitalists keen to tap into China’s lucrative financial services markets by promising to make access to them easier for foreign firms.
The offer was intended to demonstrate Beijing’s commitment to an open market policy and counterbalance any fallout from a trade war waged by US President Donald Trump.
While Beijing is keen to stimulate capital inflows – its latest move allows foreigners to open trading accounts for mainland-listed stocks – it has been equally determined to restrict outbound payments and investments.
