BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s central bank and financial regulators pledged on Friday to ensure financing support for the property sector and to work together to resolve local government debt risks.
Chinese leaders are trying to revive the economy and fend off potential financial risks from a property slump and 92 trillion yuan ($12.77 trillion) in local government debt.
Financial institutions will meet reasonable financing needs of property firms and refrain from withdrawing or cutting off loans to them, the securities regulator said on Friday, after a meeting held by the central bank and financial regulators.
Recent efforts to stabilise financing for the real estate sector via bank credit, bonds, and equity are gaining traction, the China Securities Regulatory Commission said.
China will promote stable credit expansion to support its economic growth, and financial institutions should work with local governments to resolve debt risks, by extending, swapping or rolling over debt, the regulator added.
($1 = 7.2050 Chinese yuan renminbi)
(Reporting by Kevin Yao and Ella Cao; editing by Christina Fincher, William Maclean)
