2018年CRI Measures to further open up China's financial sector underway

 

Measures announced earlier last month to further open up China's financial sector¹ are now underway, with a number of foreign investors² now taking part.

China's top securities watchdog is reviewing an application by UBS for a majority shareholding³ in a joint⁴-venture securities brokerage firm.

UBS is applying to raise its shareholding in UBS Securities from 24.99% up to 51%, giving it a controlling interest in the company.

It is the second largest shareholder⁵ in the investment bank and brokerage firm after Beijing Guoxiang Property Management.

The move comes after the China Securities Regulatory Commission issued a new regulation at the end of April regarding foreign investment in China's securities firms. 

The new regulation allows foreign shareholders⁶ ownership of up to 51% of a securities firm based in China.

Qualified⁷ foreign investors can now submit applications to register a change in controlling interest.

Xie Yaxuan, the chief macro-economic researcher at China Merchants Securities, says the move shows China's sincere attitude towards the opening of its economy.

"On the one hand, we allow foreign businesses to own shares in securities joint ventures, which shows that we're sincere in opening up our securities sector to the rest of the world. On the other hand, overseas funds and foreign investment are interested in China's capital market, so both sides can participate easily," says Xie.

The expert adds that the opening of the securities sector is an important part of China's development.

"Although there will be much more competition with foreign investors taking part, the market will also expand thanks to their participation⁸. An expanded market will bring more opportunities to China's domestic securities firms," says Xie.

China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, has received the first application from a foreign payment company to enter the country's third-party payment industry.

The application was submitted by WorldFirst, which is an international foreign exchange service provider.

On the same day the WorldFirst application was lodged⁹, the central bank also received an application from Experian, a British provider of consumer and business credit reporting, which wants to offer corporate¹⁰ credit information within China.

Zhao Xijun, the deputy director of the School of Finance at Renmin University, expects moves such as these to bring mutual¹¹ benefits both within, and outside of, China's borders.

"The new round of opening up is granting national treatment to foreign investors. China's opening up has provided more opportunities for global social and economic development, especially for players in the economic sector, such as enterprises, investors, traders, and financial institutions," says Zhao.

During the Boao Forum¹² for Asia in April, specific measures were fleshed out for the further opening of China's economy, along with a timetable for the changes.

Restrictions¹³ on foreign equity¹⁴ in banks and financial asset management firms are being dropped, while foreign equity in securities, funds, futures¹⁵, and life insurance companies are being capped at 51%, and this limitation will be eventually phased out in three years.

1 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 shareholding   

n.股权

参考例句：

• Shareholding commercial banks must exercise an independent system of board of directors. 股份制商业银行必须实行独立董事制度。 来自互联网
• Asset re-structuring: to conduct shareholding reform for high quality assets. 资产重组：对优质资产进行股份制改造。 来自互联网

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 shareholder   

n.股东，股票持有人

参考例句：

• The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
• A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。

6 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

7 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

8 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

9 lodged   

v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属

参考例句：

• The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

11 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

12 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

13 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

14 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

15 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。