MNI China Press Digest, Nov 29: CBIRC, Business, Investment

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

Thursday:

     The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission plans to make 18

amendments to regulations on foreign banks in China, further clarifying the

rules governing them, Economic Information Daily reported on Thursday. Foreign

banks with approval to run derivatives trading units from their China head

offices will likely be given clearance to expand to other branches after

consultation with local bank regulators, the Daily reported, citing a revised

draft of the plans. (Link to the story: https://bit.ly/2P64enf)

     Following Wednesday's executive meeting, China's State Council has decided

to launch a nationwide assessment of the business environment, benchmarking

against international standards, and pledging to optimize the environment so as

to attract further foreign investment, 21st Century Business Herald reported.

There are a list of concerns that need fully addressing, including market

access, tax and fee reductions, legal safeguards, government-business relations,

and fair competition, the newspaper said citing Feng Qiaobin, professor at the

Department of Economics in the Chinese Academy of Governance. (Link to the

story: https://bit.ly/2TSzbii)

     As year end approaches, local governments are rushing to kick start major

projects in order to meet annual targets. A batch of key projects with a total

investment of over CNY100 billion yuan got underway recently, Shanghai

Securities News reported on Thursday. In November, Bengbu city in Anhui

province, Qingdao city in Shandong province, and Changde city in Hunan province

started infrastructure projects worth CNY65.78 billion, CNY20 billion and

CNY10.97 billion respectively, the News reported. Transportation projects have

been a highlight for local governments promoting investment in Q4, the News

said. (Link to the story: https://bit.ly/2BDSgh7)

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

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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