Premier says mainland-HK bond trading link on the way

A bond trading link will be set up between the mainland and Hong Kong this year to further open the country's securities market, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the news conference after the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, Li said under the planned bond trading link, overseas investors will be able to buy and sell bonds in the Chinese mainland market while offering mainland investors access to the bond market in Hong Kong.

Following Li's remarks, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd said that the bond trading link represents a major breakthrough in the development of the mainland capital markets, and further strengthens the role of Hong Kong as a gateway between the mainland and international markets.