Govt fillip to boost bank loans

The central bank said yesterday it would ensure a "reasonable and steady" increase in bank loans this year to support the country's economic growth amid the worsening global financial crisis.

Liu Shiyu, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), said the country will "enhance support to the financial sectors for economic growth."

"We will enhance the 'window guidance' and inform financial institutions of the (right) meaning of the central government's macroeconomic regulation to guide reasonable loan extensions," the central bank said in a statement on its website.