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- Index number:
- 000014453-2019-0189
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- Dispatch date:
- 2007-01-21
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- Publish organization:
- State Administration of Foreign Exchange
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- Exchange Reference number:
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- Name:
- Promote an Equilibrium in the Balance of Payments, Achieve Rapid and Sound Economic Development
January 21, 2007-The National Foreign Exchange Administration Conference was held in
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (hereafter referred to as the SAFE) continued to follow the concept of scientific development as a guide to the overall economic situation, earnestly carried out the overall plan made by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, further deepened restructuring, improved administration, changed its way of thinking, and introduced new mechanisms. As a result, all work made progress in 2006. First, external financial investment and individual foreign exchange administration witnessed new breakthroughs. Vigorous support was provided to banks and securities and insurance institutions to invest in overseas financial markets. By the end of 2006, the SAFE had approved 15 commercial banks for quotas of foreign exchange purchases of as much as USD 13.4 billion for overseas wealth management on behalf of clients, 15 insurance companies for quotas of overseas investments of as much as USD 5.174 billion, and one fund management company for a quota in overseas investment of as much as USD 0.5 billion. The management of an annual quota for individual foreign exchange purchases was implemented in May 2006. The amount and number of transactions of Ms. Hu pointed out that we should objectively view the current disequilibrium in the balance of payments and accurately grasp its effects and trends. The balance of payments surplus indicates that our comprehensive national strength and global competitiveness are improving, promoting economic growth and employment, supporting the implementation of development strategies and reform in key fields, and maintaining financial stability. However, the continuous existence of a large surplus also complicates macro-control, imposes pressures for an appreciation of the RMB and increases trade frictions, thus impeding the transformation of economic growth patterns and the economic restructuring process. Therefore, an equilibrium in the balance of payments is critical to the reform and opening up as well as to rapid and sound economic development. Placing great emphasis on this issue, the Central Committee of the Party and the State Council proposed that we must treat the promotion of an equilibrium in the balance of payments as an important task for maintaining steady macro-economic development and have made important arrangements for achieving this goal. All levels of the SAFE must align their thinking with the spirit of the Central Government, fully recognize the significance of an equilibrium in the balance of payments to stabilize macro-economic development, and deeply understand the policies put forward by the Central Government regarding promoting an equilibrium in the balance of payments and thoroughly implement related policies and measures.
Ms. Hu emphasized that 2007 is an important year for carrying out and implementing the concept of scientific development in an in-depth manner and for actively promoting the construction of a socialist harmonious society. This year, foreign exchange administration will follow Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the Three Represents as a guide, and will implement the overall concept of scientific development, earnestly carry out the strategic plans made by the Party Central Committee and the State Council since the 16th National Party Congress, closely follow the guidelines set out at the Central Economic Work Conference and the National Financial Work Conference, deepen the restructuring of the foreign exchange system, broaden capital outflow channels, vigorously develop the foreign exchange market, guard against the risk of foreign exchange reserves, tighten capital inflows and monitoring of sales, and promote an equilibrium in the balance of payments, thus promoting rapid and sound economic development and paving the way for the success of the 17th National Party Congress.
The conference also made arrangements for foreign exchange administration in 2007. Ms. Hu emphasized that efforts should be concentrated on the following four tasks. First, the reform of foreign exchange administration will be deepened. It is planned that market-based development will be furthered and the reform of the foreign exchange management system will be pursued, loosening controls over foreign exchange holdings and use by enterprises and individuals will be continued in an orderly way, the development of the foreign exchange market will be accelerated, more favorable policies for the innovation of financial products will be introduced, products in the foreign exchange market will be enriched, the Renminbi exchange rate formation mechanism will be further improved, and the operation and administration of foreign exchange reserves will be strengthened, effectively guarding against risks and actively exploring and developing utilization channels and methods for the foreign exchange reserves. Second, foreign exchange outflows will be promoted. It is planned that the external investment channel will be further expanded, gradually loosening the limitations on the size and type of external financial investments by institutions and individuals and trying to make new progress in the increase of external financial investment. Meanwhile, it is planned that foreign exchange administration of direct investment abroad will be further improved, offering continual and vigorous support for competitive and powerful enterprises that sincerely wish to go global.Third, supervisory work will be reinforced. It is planned that effective monitoring of cross-border short-term capital flows, especially venture capital, will be strengthened. This year, efforts should be concentrated on improving the management methods over external debts, strictly controlling the overheated growth of foreign debts, continuing to implement and consolidate the three supervisory policies for trade-related foreign exchange collection and sales, individual foreign exchange and foreign capital access to the real estate market, and tightening the capital trade credit inflows and strictly monitoring abnormal capital inflows. Fourth, the methods of foreign exchange administration will be improved by adopting advanced technologies. Without effective measures, the administration will be just like a strawman and will have no effect. This year, efforts should be concentrated on keeping a close eye on abnormal cross-border fund flows and illegal foreign exchange transactions, further elevating the level of computerization, raising the efficiency of on-site and off-site inspections, and guaranteeing the actual effects of various policies. Ms. Hu stipulated that all cadres should strengthen the construction of their work style, improve their ability for administration of foreign exchange, carry out their work actively and innovatively according to the requirements of the new situations and tasks, and promote an equilibrium in the balance of payments with a down-to-earth approach.
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