China creates ‘concerto’ of rules for insurance sector, promotes long-term investment

China’s State Council issued a 10-point document on Wednesday outlining comprehensive regulations for the insurance industry

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An employee working at a semiconductor chips factory in Huai’an, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:00pm, 12 Sep 2024

China has taken steps to mitigate financial risks by tightening regulations around the insurance sector, encouraging the development of so-called patient capital and boosting investment in the technology sector.

The country’s cabinet, the State Council, on Wednesday issued a 10-point document outlining comprehensive regulations for the insurance industry, using strong wording like “long teeth with thorns” and “angular” to describe the stricter measures.

The plan also aims to boost the insurance sector’s investment in emerging industries, advanced manufacturing and new infrastructure - key areas that Beijing sees as vital to countering the effects of weak domestic demand and external economic risks.

“We need to fully leverage the long-term investment advantages of insurance funds, foster genuinely patient capital, and promote a virtuous cycle between funds, capital, and assets,” the document said.

Patient capital refers to funds oriented towards the longer term with greater risk tolerance, and it has recently taken on more meaning in China’s official discourse, as state assets and securities watchdogs have called for longer-term financial resources to be pooled into key sectors.

Additionally as part of the new regulations, Beijing will tighten the vetting process for insurance companies entering the market, including scrutinising the backgrounds of managers and shareholders.