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Frankfurt Beats London To Become First RMB Clearing Hub Outside Asia

Photo By: Reuters

By Courtesy of China Briefing

Germany Deutsche Bundesbank and the People Bank of China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Saturday that will establish an RMB settling and clearing service in Frankfurt. Coinciding with Chinese President Xi Jinping visit to Berlin, the new MoU will make Frankfurt the first hub for clearing RMB trades outside Asia narrowly beating London Bank of England, which will sign a similar MoU today.

Clearing and settling are essential for international finance and entail converting a promise of payment into the actual movement of money from one bank to another.

While the Frankfurt-based clearing bank has yet to be named, the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Bank of Communications Co., Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., Bank of China Ltd. and China Construction Bank Corp. are the top Chinese contenders with existing branches in Frankfurt.

“Frankfurt is one of Europe foremost financial centers and home to two central banks, making it a particularly stable location. Renminbi clearing will strengthen the close economic and financial ties between Germany and the People Republic of China. The growing trade and investment relations between Germany and China will make the volumes of payment in RMB continue to rise. German Bundesbank supports the development of a yuan-clearing solution in Frankfurt, said Joachim Nagel, member of Bundesbank executive board.

As Germany third-largest foreign trading partner, bilateral trade between China and Germany reached 140 billion euros last year (US$192 billion) according to Germany Federal Statistics Office. China additionally ranked as the fifth-largest importer of German goods and second-largest exporter to Germany.

Along with the currency clearing MoU, Deutsche Boerse AG, which operates the Frankfurt stock exchange, signed a separate agreement with the People Bank of China that will facilitate Chinese issuers and investors access to European capital markets and stock listings.