MNI China Press Digest, March 20: Virus, Opening, PBOC Bill

     BEIJING (MNI) - The following lists highlights from Chinese press reports

on Friday:

     Promoting the full resumption of work and production will be the most

urgent task for China after the first zero growth of new COVID-19 cases in the

pandemic epicentre of Hubei province, the Securities Times said in a front-page

commentary. To resume work and production as soon as possible is vital to

stabilize employment and achieve the country's economic goals, the commentary

said. The Times said the resumption would also drive a recovery in the share

market.

     The new negative list banning areas of foreign investment is likely to be

released as early as May with the aim of opening up more areas to offset the

impact of the coronavirus, the Economic Information Daily reported. Citing Zhang

Fei, deputy director of the Institute of Foreign Investment Research at the

Ministry of Commerce, the Daily's report said breakthrough openings were

expected in medical care, elderly care, finance, transportation, logistics,

tourism, education and telecommunications. 

     The People's Bank of China plans to issue CNY10 billion 6-month offshore

bills in Hong Kong on March 26 to "enrich high credit rating yuan products and

improve yuan yield curve," the PBOC said on its website today. 

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

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