Improving regulations ensures fair market environment for retail investors

China will improve a series of capital market regulations and strengthen crackdowns on illegal security behaviors to ensure a fair market environment for retail investors, according to Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

"Protecting the lawful rights and interests of investors, especially small and medium-sized investors, is the most important and central task of the CSRC," Wu said on Wednesday while addressing a press conference of the ongoing second session of the 14th National People's Congress.

The CSRC will correct regulatory loopholes - such as when it comes to fake divorces, short selling and securities refinancing - to further restrict big shareholders' illegal shareholding reductions and improve relevant rules to better regulate quantitative trading to ensure market fairness.

Stricter standards for delisting will be launched while mandatory measures will be imposed against listed companies that do not payout dividends for years, Wu said, adding that the CSRC will encourage listed companies to give multiple dividends each year, in particular before the Spring Festival.

The CSRC will also substantially increase on-site inspections of companies under IPO reviews, Wu said. "IPO should not be used as a tool for making money."

He added that regulations regarding listing, mergers and acquisitions, and stock incentives also need to be refined to help promising listed companies grow stronger and better share the benefits of high-quality economic development with capital market investors.