The China Construction Bank (CCB) signed 19 foreign loan agreements in 1999 and borrowed some 360 million US dollars, according to CCB sources in Beijing on January 17.

The CCB also provided a joint venture in China to borrow money from overseas financial institutions. The money borrowed was the largest sum so far borrowed from overseas by a domestic enterprise.

By the end of 1999, the CCB signed 409 agreements, raising a total of 9.073 billion US dollars from overseas. Last year, CCB was involved with a number of key projects such as the Shanghai No.3 Subway, the Huaneng Dezhou Power Plant in east China's Shandong Province, Tianjin Port, and the Tongyu Wind Power Plant in northeast China's Jilin Province, all using government loans or export credit.

The CCB also helped firms like Beijing Nokia and Suzhou Nokia by offering seller's credit and other services.

Moreover, CCB has opened an aircraft leasing finance office.