Financial sector opens further

Overseas firms, individuals to get more access for investments

China plans to step up efforts to deepen reforms by granting more access to overseas companies and individuals to make investments in the country's free trade zones, the latest in its efforts to further open up the financial sector for investors.

A total of 12 new measures covering securities, insurance and banking services will be adopted in the free trade zones to better support the development in the pilot regions and the nonfinancial sector, according to a guideline released by the State Council, China's cabinet, on Friday.