FINANCIAL TIMES: China intends to extend renminbi loans to other Brics nations, in another step towards the internationalisation of its currency.
The China Development Bank will sign a memorandum of understanding in New Delhi with its Brazilian, Russian, Indian and South African counterparts on March 29, say people familiar with their talks. Under the agreement CDB, which lends mainly in dollars overseas, will make renminbi loans available, while the other Brics nations’ development banks will also extend loans denominated in their respective currencies.
The initiative aims to boost trade between the five nations and promote use of the renminbi, rather than US dollar, for international trade and cross-border lending. Under 13 per cent of China’s Asia trade is transacted in renminbi, according to Helen Qiao, chief Asia economist for Morgan Stanley. HSBC estimates that the currency’s share of regional trade could swell to up to 50 per cent by 2015… (more)
EDITOR: While we play policeman and nation builder to the world (most often with disasterous results) the Chinese step by step are replacing us as the leading economy with all of the benefits that brings.
