The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today announced that new initiatives were underway to strengthen capital market activities between Singapore and China. These measures will facilitate the growing interest of financial institutions based in Singapore and China to expand in each other’s markets.
The initiatives were discussed at the 15th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation between Singapore and China, co-chaired by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Heng Swee Keat and People’s Republic of China Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng.
DBS will be granted a Settlement Agent Licence by the People’s Bank of China (PBC). This will enable DBS to trade, settle and provide custody for China’s interbank bond market instruments on behalf of foreign investors.
In addition, MAS and PBC will establish a cooperation mechanism that enables designated Singapore and Chinese banks to offer custody and trading services for regional and global investors in China’s bond market. Further details will be announced in due course.
MAS and the China Securities Regulatory Commission are also in discussions to enhance capital market connectivity, and have agreed to strengthen cross-border supervisory cooperation to promote the healthy and stable development of the securities and futures markets.