溢 制卧台贸多上考 金融英语阅读 grab a bigger share of the lucrative domestic market ahead of the expected rough weather from the invasion of foreign banks after 2006. It is this situation that has moved overseas banks to take a keener interest in investing in local counterparts,with knock-on benefits the domestic banks.Pudong Development Bank says Citigroup's investment will catapult it into the global spotlight.However,a debate is already brewing over whether the waiving of rules ould pose a threat to the country's financial system,with analysts divided into two opposing camps.Optimists say the current foreign investment in domestic lenders is still limited and that the funds usually flow into small city commercial banks,with little effect on the country's financial industry.The big-four banks-ICBC,BOC,CCB and ABC control about three quarters of the country's total banking assets,deposits and lending.As long as the foreign investor helps keep the local lender in profit,the ownership structure should not be a concern,these analysts insist.Furthermore,the introduction of foreign investors in the banking industry will also help bail out lenders plagued by massive bad loans. One or two of the nation's big-four banks will be chosen for a pilot project to receive investment from a foreign shareholder.With foreign investors being allowed to become largest single shareholders,some analysts believe they will be able to gain de facto control of the lender.They recommend that the banking watchdog open up the country's banking sector gradually and at a steady pace.In addition,foreign lenders themselves will need further regulatory approval before increasing their stake, so they are still taking a cautious stance on the Chinese market to ensure that they can make a profit. China International Business January 2004 第2页共2页金融英语阅读 grab a bigger share of the lucrative domestic market ahead of the expected rough weather from the invasion of foreign banks after 2006. It is this situation that has moved overseas banks to take a keener interest in investing in local counterparts, with knock-on benefits the domestic banks. Pudong Development Bank says Citigroup’s investment will catapult it into the global spotlight. However, a debate is already brewing over whether the waiving of rules ould pose a threat to the country’s financial system, with analysts divided into two opposing camps. Optimists say the current foreign investment in domestic lenders is still limited and that the funds usually flow into small city commercial banks, with little effect on the country’s financial industry. The big-four banks- ICBC, BOC, CCB and ABC control about three quarters of the country’s total banking assets, deposits and lending. As long as the foreign investor helps keep the local lender in profit, the ownership structure should not be a concern, these analysts insist. Furthermore, the introduction of foreign investors in the banking industry will also help bail out lenders plagued by massive bad loans. One or two of the nation’s big-four banks will be chosen for a pilot project to receive investment from a foreign shareholder. With foreign investors being allowed to become largest single shareholders, some analysts believe they will be able to gain de facto control of the lender. They recommend that the banking watchdog open up the country’s banking sector gradually and at a steady pace. In addition, foreign lenders themselves will need further regulatory approval before increasing their stake, so they are still taking a cautious stance on the Chinese market to ensure that they can make a profit. China International Business January 2004 第 2 页 共 2 页