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E-mail China.org.cn, September 12, 2024
Xing Huina:
Thank you. The floor is now open for questions. Before asking your question, please identify the media outlet you represent.
CCTV:
In May this year, the NFRA issued guidance on developing technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance and digital finance in the banking and insurance sectors. Several months have passed. Can you introduce the work you have carried out and the achievements you have obtained? What measures will you take in the next step? Thank you.
Xiao Yuanqi:
These questions are of great concern to us. As you mentioned, the NFRA issued this guidance in May, and we appreciate your attention to it.
Developing technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance and digital finance is a major task assigned to us by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Central Financial Work Conference.
In terms of technology finance, we mainly focus on targeting the global frontiers of science and technology, the development of the economy, the major needs of the country, and the health and safety of our people. We have accelerated developing a financial system for scienti?c and technological innovation, concentrating on key links and vital areas. We've provided technology companies with financing services and insurance guarantees better adapting to their businesses and development phases. Meanwhile, we have advanced a virtuous circle of technology, industry, and finance. By the end of June 2024, the balance of loans to high-tech companies nationwide reached 15.3 trillion yuan, with credit loans and medium- to long-term loans each accounting for more than 40%. The loan balance grew 19.5% year on year. Since tech companies often can't provide sufficient collateral, we encourage banking institutions to offer credit loans. Moreover, as it takes time for scientific and technological innovations to become profitable products, we also encourage banks to provide more medium- and long-term loans to sci-tech businesses and industries. This approach ensures loan funds are more compatible with the development cycle of sci-tech firms and industries.
In the area of green finance, the NFRA has introduced guidance on promoting the high-quality development of green insurance and continued improving its work on green finance standards and evaluation. By the end of June, the green credit balance of 21 major banks was 31 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 25.9%. Green insurance claim payments in the first half of this year reached 85 billion yuan.
Regarding inclusive finance, we have issued a notice on inclusive credit work in 2024 and guidance on promoting the high-quality development of inclusive insurance. These two documents have played an important role in advancing inclusive finance in the banking and insurance sectors. Meanwhile, we have further improved the inclusive credit system. By the end of June, the balance of inclusive loans to micro and small enterprises stood at 32 trillion yuan, registering a year-on-year growth rate of 17%.
For pension finance, the NFRA has cooperated with relevant departments to jointly promote private pension schemes. More than 60 million accounts have been set up, and over 500 products have been developed, covering savings deposits, wealth management and commercial pension schemes. We have vigorously advanced commercial pension schemes, accumulating a pension scale worth more than 6 trillion yuan and covering nearly 100 million people. We've also developed financial products for old-age care such as savings accounts, wealth management products and private pension schemes. Previously introduced as pilot projects in some cities and financial institutions, these products are now promoted nationwide.
For digital finance, the NFRA has issued guiding opinions on the digital transformation of the banking and insurance sectors. This aims to accelerate the development of digital financial products and services, as well as strengthen data capability and infrastructure construction.
These major works are what have been carried out recently. Looking forward, in terms of technology finance, the priority is to supervise and urge financial institutions to earnestly implement the full lifecycle financial service requirements for technology-based enterprises, and to guide and nurture more long-term and patient capital to invest in projects at the early stages, in small enterprises, over long time horizons, and in advanced core technologies. In terms of green finance, we need to further improve the relevant statistical systems while enriching the supply of green financial products, particularly enhancing the precision and effectiveness of green financial services. In terms of inclusive finance, our main focus is to further implement and refine the two aforementioned notices, as well as the Implementation Opinions of the State Council on Promoting the High-Quality Development of Inclusive Finance, to achieve effects. In terms of pension finance, we must steadily promote the development of commercial pension finance while requiring insurance institutions to design pension insurance products that are simpler, more convenient and more stable, in order to cater to the characteristics and needs of pension insurance. In terms of digital finance, we must further strengthen top-level design and overall planning, promote innovative applications of digital technologies in the financial sector, increase digital empowerment and enhance the management level of financial institutions. Thank you.
