China's securities regulator made plans to further promote the opening up initiative, aiming at attracting more foreign investment, the Shanghai Securities News reported on Friday.
Measures included are to speed up the implementation of the removal of restrictions on the ratio of foreign investment in the securities industry, and to prepare the Shanghai-London Stock Connect mechanism for its opening within this year as well as to support the A-shares inclusion into the FTSE Russell index and to raise the ratio of the A-shares in the MSCI index. Also, to revise the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) and the RMB Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) scheme to relax access restrictions.
Hu Yuyue, a professor of futures at Beijing Technology and Business University, said that the measures are aiming to attract investors to financial institutions like investment banks, as well as securities, fund and futures companies.
"Another highlight is to introduce investors to the financial market, for example, through the Shanghai-London Stock mechanism," said Hu.
Xie Yunliang, an analyst from Guotai Junan Securities, said that the responses of foreign investors were worth noting. "The high valuation of American stocks has put much pressure on investors, but that of the Chinese stocks is relatively low," said Xie.
Dong Dengxin, a professor on finance from Wuhan University of Science and Technology, said that the amount of foreign investment that would go into the Chinese financial market would be determined by their recognition on the mechanisms and institutions of China's financial market.
The Guotai Junan Securities Global Chief Economist Hua Changchun held a similar view that it was necessary for China to improve its financial institutions.
"For example, the reforms on issuance and delisting will have a positive effect on the inflow of foreign investment," said Hua to the Shanghai Securities News.