China's yuan-denominated loans rose by 13.53 trillion yuan (about 1.89 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months of this year, central bank data showed on Tuesday.
According to the People's Bank of China, the M2 -- a broad measure of the money supply that includes cash in circulation and all deposits -- rose 6.3 percent year on year to 303.31 trillion yuan (about 42.33 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of July.
The M1, which covers cash in circulation plus demand deposits, stood at 63.23 trillion yuan (about 8.82 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of July, down 6.6 percent from the previous year.
According to preliminary statistics, the social financing scale increased to 18.87 trillion yuan (about 2.63 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months, a decrease of 3.22 trillion yuan (about 449 billion U.S. dollars) compared to the same period last year.
At the end of July, outstanding yuan loans totaled 251.11 trillion yuan (about 35.04 trillion U.S. dollars), an increase of 8.7 percent year on year.
China's yuan loans grow by 13.53 trillion yuan in Jan-July: central bank
A major conference on grain and agricultural cooperation opened Thursday in Zhengzhou City of central China's Henan Province, aiming to enhance strategic partnership and deepen agricultural cooperation between Henan and ASEAN countries.
Government officials, ambassadors to China, business association representatives and entrepreneurs from ASEAN countries have gathered to participate in this two-day event, with the goal of enhancing agricultural investment, strengthening regional connectivity and promoting bilateral trade.
"This conference gathers the Asian member states together with China. We build our agriculture sector to get it stronger, to become a driving force for this food security, for the stability, the social stability and also sustainability," said Hong Narit, director of Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia.
Henan is one of China's major grain-producing regions, accounting for a quarter of the country's wheat output. During the conference, participating companies from ASEAN countries engaged in targeted discussions with Henan's leading enterprises through "one-on-one" business matchmaking meetings to explore potential cooperation projects.
"My country is tropical season, so it's different fruits we need. So we can make some exchanges better about our products. We can come enter to China, and then from China to Indonesia," said Hotman Fajar Simanjuntak, director general of Horticulture branch under the Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia. Representatives from Henan and ASEAN countries also pledged to strengthen their commitment to international cooperation aimed at eradicating hunger and reducing poverty.
"China program on poverty eradication has been very impressive. It should be a model that should be followed by everyone around," said Pehin Dato Haji Abdu'r Rahmani bin Dato Haji Basir, Bruneian Ambassador to China.
The conference will include a series of high-profile events, such as grain and agricultural product exhibitions and industry cooperation promotions.
Grain, Agricultural Cooperation Conference kicks off in Henan
