China, ECB sign $57bn currency swap agreementOctober 11, 2013 - 15:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - China and the European Central Bank have signed a currency swap agreement worth 350bn yuan ($57bn), BBC News reported. Such agreements mean the central banks can exchange currencies and firms can settle trade in local currencies rather than in U.S. dollars. The deal is one of the largest for China as it looks to build a more international role for the yuan. It will last for three years and can be extended if both parties agree. Foreign exchange swaps such as these mean two countries agree to swap, or borrow, each other's currency at an agreed rate. In doing so, the parties involved avoid swings in exchange rates. They can also be less reliant on the U.S. dollar for bilateral trade and some business deals. China's central bank has now signed currency swap deals amounting to some 2.2 trillion yuan with 22 countries and regions, according to state-owned Xinhua news agency. "The new arrangement will provide more liquidity to the renminbi market in the euro area, promote overseas use of the yuan, and help facilitate trade and investment," China's central bank said in a statement. The European Central Bank said: "The swap arrangement has been established in the context of rapidly growing bilateral trade and investment between the euro area and China, as well as the need to ensure the stability of financial markets." Europe's central bank also said the deal would reassure eurozone banks of the continuous provision of Chinese yuan. Photo: thefiscaltimes.com Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |