China to intensify counter-cyclical adjustment of monetary policy: central bank governor

BEIJING - China will intensify counter-cyclical adjustment of its monetary policy and create a sound monetary and financial environment for stable economic growth and high-quality development, according to Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, the central bank.

"We will adhere to a supportive monetary policy, intensify and improve the precision of monetary policy regulation, effectively implement existing policies, and make greater efforts to materialize incremental policies," Pan said last week while presenting a report on financial work to the 12th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress for deliberation.

Pan said it is necessary to keep liquidity adequate and at a reasonable level, and to lower financing costs for enterprises and households, while continuing to properly utilize structural monetary policy tools to strengthen support for major strategies, key areas and weak links.

He said efforts will be made to ensure that monetary and financial policies form synergy with fiscal, industrial and employment policies, adding that the country will resolutely guard against the risk of exchange rate overshooting and keep the RMB exchange rate basically stable at an appropriate and balanced level.

Pan added that the country will comprehensively strengthen financial supervision and regulation by strictly implementing market access and off-site supervision for financial institutions, while also strengthening coordination between the central and local financial supervision and fortifying the protection of the rights and interests of financial consumers and investors.

He said China will continue to improve the quality and efficiency of financial services by encouraging and guiding financial institutions to optimize the credit structure, and through strengthening financial support for new quality productive forces. The country will also intensify efforts to nurture patient capital, and vigorously promote the development of science and technology innovation bonds and green bonds.

In addition, efforts will be made to continuously deepen financial reform and opening-up by supporting large commercial banks in replenishing their capital, expanding the channels for foreign investors to invest in China's capital market, prudently advancing the RMB's internationalization, and promoting the development of Hong Kong and Shanghai as international financial centers, Pan said.

Pan also said that efforts will be made to prevent and defuse financial risks in a proactive and prudent manner to maintain the overall stability of the financial system.