Chinese PM urges healthy capital market development

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday urged healthy development of the country's capital market through reforms and innovation. Li said that a sound capital market provides more channels for investment and financing, as well as improving financing structure, modern corporate governance and risk management. He stressed solid reforms in the registration system of stock issuance, faster building of the multi-tier equity market, more market-oriented mergers and better delisting provision, so as to enhance listed companies' benefits and their capacities to offer continuous investment return. The bond market shall be regulated with diversified bonds for different investors and stricter credit supervision and management, while the futures market will see more bulk commodity futures and further development of treasury bond futures, Li said. China plans to foster the private equity market and set no administrative approvals for legal and qualified private offering, while encouraging investment funds to support smaller enterprises and innovations in technological productions and services. The premier also urged easier access for intermediaries and professional investors and a smooth path for Internet finance. Meanwhile, Li added, the capital market will open wider to investors from both home and abroad, with improved laws and policies for early warning and management of risk and harsher punishments against illegal operations like false statements, insider dealing and market manipulation.