China issues rules on overseas investment in mainland interbank bond market

BEIJING — China's central bank Wednesday issued rules on overseas investment in the mainland interbank bond market via the mainland-Hong Kong bond connect program.

Qualified overseas investors can buy bonds in the interbank bond market either with Chinese yuan or foreign currencies, according to the rules released by the People's Bank of China (PBOC), which took effect on Wednesday.

China approved a bond connect program between the mainland and Hong Kong earlier last month, allowing investors from both sides to trade bonds on each other's interbank markets.

Overseas investors should register the bonds they purchase under qualified overseas trusteeship bodies, which have accounts in mainland counterparts.

The PBOC and other regulatory bodies have the right to access the data of overseas investors investing in the mainland interbank bond market, according to the rules.

The PBOC will supervise the process and work with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and regulators in other countries and regions to protect investor interests and counter money laundering, according to the rules.