Zou Yingguang, general manager of CITIC Securities, speaks at the company's 2024 Investor Open Day in Beijing, Dec. 12, 2024. [Photo courtesy of CITIC Securities]

CITIC Securities, China's largest brokerage, highlighted its expanding global role at its 2024 Investor Open Day on Thursday, emphasizing its position as a bridge for international investment flows.

The event, themed "CITIC your trusted partner for going global and coming to China," showcased the firm's strategy for facilitating both outbound Chinese investment and inbound global capital.

At the event, Zou Yingguang, general manager of CITIC Securities, emphasized the company's commitment to China's financial opening. "As China's economy continues to develop steadily and opening-up deepens, we are witnessing increasing demand for cross-border investment services," Zou said.

Data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shows China recorded a net outflow of $98.7 billion in outbound equity direct investment during the first three quarters, while inbound equity direct investment reached $60 billion. 

"There's a robust two-way flow of investment, with Chinese enterprises expanding overseas and foreign investors coming to China," Zou noted.

He added that CITIC Securities aspires to be the top-of-mind choice for individuals and businesses looking to expand their global footprint or enter the Chinese market.

The general manager also reviewed the company's achievements in facilitating the global expansion of Chinese enterprises. The firm has supported over $200 billion in overseas equity financing, facilitated more than $360 billion in international bond issuances and managed outbound mergers and acquisitions exceeding $43 billion, according to company data.

"Our efforts have been instrumental in advancing the globalization of Chinese enterprises and fostering the development of new quality productive forces," Zou said.

CITIC Securities has facilitated more than $19 billion in inbound mergers and acquisitions and issued over 200 billion yuan in Panda bonds, maintaining its industry leadership in bringing foreign investment to China. 

The CLSA China Growth Fund, a U.S. dollar private equity fund targeting global investors interested in China's primary markets, has closed several deals channeling international capital into China's emerging industries, Zou said. The fund leverages CITIC Securities' expertise in Chinese markets.

"As one of the first Chinese investment banks to expand internationally, CITIC Securities has consistently pursued a global strategy to serve China's high-level institutional opening of its capital markets," said Li Chunbo, chairman of CITIC Securities International Group.

CITIC Securities maintains operations in 13 countries, serving more than 2,000 major institutional investors across markets representing over 95% of global equity capitalization, Li said.

Notably, he mentioned that the company has built the largest network among Chinese securities firms in Belt and Road regions, including local branches, research coverage, sales operations, and clearing and settlement services. "This makes us the investment bank most aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative worldwide," he added.

The investor event followed a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Dec. 9, where China's top leadership outlined economic priorities for 2025, urging a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy.

"Expanding domestic demand across the board" and "pursuing high-standard opening-up while stabilizing foreign trade and investment" were also highlighted to ensure steady and sustainable growth.

"Looking ahead, we expect to see continued growth in China's macro-securitization ratio and a deepening of both Chinese enterprises' internationalization and the country's capital market opening up," Zou said. "Our goal is to be the preferred partner for our clients, whether they are Chinese companies seeking to expand overseas or foreign investors looking to invest in China."