Lender bets on global growth in changing world of finance

As of Dec 31, Bank of China had committed $121.9 billion to support domestic companies going global.

Chen Siqing, its president, said the bank will use its worldwide network to help clients as they expand around the world.

"Bank of China will follow national strategies closely, enhance its international operations and try to become the 'financial arteries' of the 'One Belt, One Road' initiatives, as well as the first choice for business related to free trade zones," Chen said.

As of March 26, the bank had institutions in 16 countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The lender will also consolidate its status as the main channel for the yuan's internationalization, he said.

Its services go well beyond commercial and investment banking, including insurance and aircraft leasing.

Last year, its cross-border renminbi settlements reached 5.32 trillion yuan ($856.9 billion), up 34 percent from the previous year, and cross-border renminbi clearing surged 86.6 percent to 240.8 trillion yuan. The People's Bank of China, the central bank, has so far designated Bank of China as a yuan-clearing bank in seven countries and regions.

The bank has promoted the development of the offshore renminbi market by offering a diverse range of investable products for overseas local markets and issuing so-called dim sum bonds, including an issue of 2.5 billion yuan in London, one of 2 billion yuan in Sydney and one of 1.5 billion yuan in Luxembourg.