Greater foreign role to boost stock market

Regulators are accelerating the opening-up of China's capital market by further relaxing the limits on foreign investment in the A-share market.

According to an announcement released on the official website of the China Securities Regulatory Commission on Wednesday night, foreign individuals working in China will be allowed to open A-share securities accounts. Meanwhile, all foreign employees working for A-share listed companies will be entitled to stock option incentive plans.

Previously, foreigners with permanent residency in China were allowed to open A-share accounts. Foreigners who had set up foreign-invested companies in China and made the companies public in the A-share market were allowed to set up A-share accounts and hold only their own companies' shares. Foreign employees working for A-share listed companies were only allowed stock options if they worked in China.