The Export–Import Bank of China (commonly known as China Exim Bank or Exim Bank) is one of China's three major policy banks, operating under the authority of the State Council. Established in 1994, it was created to implement state policies in foreign trade, industrial development, overseas investment, and foreign aid, with a mandate to support the export of Chinese goods and services and the international expansion of Chinese firms.
Role and mandate
China Exim Bank functions as an instrument of Chinese industrial, trade, and foreign economic policy. Together with China Development Bank and Sinosure, it supports government objectives by providing policy-directed finance rather than operating primarily on a commercial basis. Its core mandate is to facilitate Chinese exports and overseas projects by extending financing to foreign governments, state-owned enterprises, and private counterparties involved in transactions with Chinese firms.
Operations
The bank's activities combine policy lending with large-scale commercial operations. Its principal instruments include export credits, buyers' credits, and investment loans, with a concentration in capital-intensive sectors such as transportation infrastructure, power generation, oil and gas pipelines, telecommunications, and water projects. China Exim Bank also provides financing to support Chinese companies establishing or expanding operations overseas, particularly in the energy, mining, and industrial sectors.