Features & Analyses

Over a year after its WTO accession, how has China done in the key securities, fund management and insurance markets?

New regulations from the central bank target the use of financial institutions to launder funds obtained by criminal means. Under new rules, both renminbi and foreign currency transfers through financial institutions under the PBOC's supervision will come under heightened scrutiny.

False profit statements and other forms of misrepresentation have plagued China's securities markets for years. A new SPC regulation directs the government's efforts to clean up the markets.

The PRC's new Foreign Debt Administration Tentative Procedures set out tighter foreign debt registration requirements, while collecting and putting a high-level government imprimatur on various policies and practices.

Legislative issues arising out of the popularity of the Internet in China include the thorny problems of privacy and the rights of the individual. The debate is more complicated in a State where the interests of society as a whole have always been seen as paramount.

China's environment has taken a beating over the past decades when economic growth has been the government's priority. The government is now making a keen effort to tackle the problems, and is devoting resources to major projects.

Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002 and is currently scheduled to sign the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) in March 2003. Is Taiwan's regulatory environment ready to accommodate foreign bidders?

Trusts in China have made considerable progress over the past few years. China's trust industry saw several positive developments in 2002, but much remains to be done to create an investment field with widespread appeal.

Under new MOFTEC rules, foreign operators can now hold up to 75% ownership in international freight forwarding agency companies in China. The key question for such foreign operators is: how to best structure their operations so as to be in a position to take full advantage when wholly foreign-owned enterprises become available in less than three years' time?