The Central Bank: Financial institutions must strengthen analysis and research on green key industries, actively connect with the list of key projects for building a beautiful China.

On January 8, 2025, the People's Bank of China and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly held a conference to promote the construction of a beautiful China through green financial services. Zhu Hexin, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, pointed out that financial and related industry regulatory authorities should continue to improve the standard system, accelerate the formulation of a unified green financial support directory and statistical system, and clarify the key directions of green finance. They should also expedite the improvement of supporting policies such as environmental rights registration, guarantees, and evaluation, to provide institutional support for the innovation of green financial products. Financial institutions should strengthen analysis and research on key green industries, actively explore innovation, continuously enrich the spectrum of green financial products, proactively connect with the list of key projects for the construction of a beautiful China, and provide financing and intellectual services in accordance with market-oriented and rule-of-law principles. All departments and units should collectively enhance the sustainable development of green finance, coordinate the relationship between quality improvement and quantity expansion, focus on promoting steady growth in the scale of green finance, and emphasize the practical support of green finance for improving environmental benefits and industrial transformation and upgrading. Zhao Yingmin pointed out that the momentum of China's green financial development is good and has played an important role in supporting high-quality economic and social development and high-level environmental protection. The central government has made systematic arrangements for the comprehensive promotion of the construction of a beautiful China, providing new opportunities and requirements for the development of green finance. The Department of Ecology and Environment should actively work with the financial sector to further deepen reform and innovation, support the construction of a beautiful China through the high-quality development of green finance. Firstly, improve the green financial standard system, effectively connect with the technical catalogue for pollution prevention, and coordinate the planning of green financial support for projects in the construction of a beautiful China. Secondly, enrich green financial products and services, carry out relevant work on expanding the national carbon market, expand financing channels for end-of-life vehicles projects, support climate investment and financing pilot projects, and explore financial support models for regional environmental protection projects. Thirdly, improve green financial policy systems, accelerate the formulation of carbon emission accounting standards and technical specifications, fully implement the pollution discharge permit system, and improve the assessment and evaluation system for green finance in financial institutions. Finally, strengthen departmental coordination, improve project promotion mechanisms, deepen reforms of environmental information disclosure systems in accordance with the law, strengthen the sustainability of financial support, and strive to achieve win-win results for environmental and economic benefits. At the meeting, the "Opinions on Leveraging the Role of Green Finance to Serve the Construction of a Beautiful China" was interpreted, and the financing needs of key areas of a beautiful China were introduced. China Resource Recycling Group, Bank of China, the Sichuan Branch of the People's Bank of China, and the Department of Ecology and Environment of Zhejiang Province made exchange speeches. The China Development Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corporation, Postal Savings Bank of China, and Hua Xia Bank signed financing matching agreements on site with 6 enterprises. Some leaders from banking and financial institutions, relevant agencies of the People's Bank of China and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, some branches of the People's Bank of China in provinces (cities), and leaders of ecology and environmental bureaus (departments), as well as leaders of related enterprises and institutions, attended the meeting.