China vows to keep capital market stable: securities regulator

BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- China's securities regulator on Monday pledged to make every effort to maintain the stable operation of the capital market, while advancing efforts to prevent risks, strengthen regulation and promote high-quality development.

Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), made the remarks during a symposium involving investor representatives in Beijing, where Wu was seeking to hear suggestions on the stable and healthy development of China's capital market.

Investors are the foundation of the capital market and its most important participants, Wu said, adding that the CSRC will work to improve the transparency and authenticity of listed companies, encourage better returns to investors, strengthen investor protection, and safeguard an open, fair and orderly market.

Participants said China's capital market has maintained generally steady momentum since the implementation of the new guideline on deepening capital market reform. Although the A-share market has recently come under pressure from external risks and other factors, they said its long-term positive outlook remains unchanged.

They also called for measures to attract more medium- and long-term capital into the market, improve regulation of quantitative trading and AI applications, encourage higher dividend payouts by listed companies, and impose tougher penalties for securities violations.

Chinese stocks closed mixed on Monday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.85 percent to 3,796.28 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.71 percent lower at 13,610.23 points.