China vows to contain corporate debt levels

> Beijing in bid to maintain balanced economic growth

BEIJING: China vowed yesterday to contain high company debt levels and further cut excess coal and steel capacity, as Beijing attempts to maintain solid and more balanced economic growth while avoiding destabilising asset bubbles.

The world’s second-largest economy likely grew around 6.7% last year – roughly in the middle of the government’s target range – but it faces increasing uncertainties in 2017, the head of the country’s state planning agency told a news briefing.

Global investors are buzzing over whether China’s leaders will be willing to accept more modest growth this year, amid worries about the risks from years of debt-fuelled stimulus driven by the political obsession with meeting official targets.

China’s credit growth has been “very fast” by global standards, and without a comprehensive strategy to tackle the debt overhang, there is a growing risk it will have a banking crisis or sharply slower growth or both, the International Monetary Fund said in October.

“Although the domestic economy is stable and improving, it still faces contradictions and problems,” said Xu Shaoshi, the top official at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

“We have the confidence, conditions and ability to ensure the economy operates within a reasonable range.”

Xu said China will not allow debt of non-financial firms to rise beyond current levels, and will step up efforts to encourage companies to restructure their debts.

China’s corporate debt has soared to 169% of gross domestic product (GDP).

China’s leaders are likely to accept growth this year of around 6.5%, policy insiders say.

That would give the government more room in theory to focus on tackling the nation’s debt pile, and on tamping down speculation that was seen last year in the housing, commodities and debt markets. – Reuters