September 10 – ICBC and China National Gold Group Corporation signed a strategic partnership agreement in Beijing. Invited guests at the signing ceremony were Chairman Jiang Jianqing and Senior Executive Vice President Zhang Hongli from ICBC, Chairman Sun Zhaoxue and Deputy General Manager Liu Bing of China National Gold Group.

International gold prices have continued to fluctuate and surge in recent years of changing political and economic landscape. People are thinking again the benefits and advantages of investing in gold. Meanwhile, gold market in China is generating considerable concern among the public. Looking at this historic opportunity to push ahead, six Ministries and Commissions including the People's Bank of China jointly issued the Opinions on Promoting the Development of the Gold Market in early August, aiming to encourage commercial banks to develop innovative financial products in line with the whole industry chain from gold mining, production, processing to sales. It calls for better financial services, improved efficiency and all-inclusive services to the gold sector. The new Opinions, serving as an important guideline to drive forward China's gold market, lays the ground and opens up new vista for partnership between commercial banks and large domestic gold enterprises.

China National Gold Group, the largest gold enterprise in China, is a mining conglomerate engaging in the geology exploration, mining, refining, processing, commercial retail, research and development, engineering design and construction. The Company ranks No. 1 in the country in terms of producing and selling gold. Precious metal business has always been a top item of ICBC agenda in offering financial services and service support to key gold enterprises. The conclusion of the strategic partnership with China National Gold Group was an ICBC move in response to the new guidelines of six Ministries and Commissions. ICBC will provide best-quality, highly efficient and all-inclusive financial services to China National Gold Group covering finance, wealth management, precious metal, global cash management and investment banking. ICBC will leverage on its network in China and overseas to fully support China National Group to spread its wings across the globe.

Both sides elevate the alliance as a strategic partnership by two fronts. First is to better serve the needs of domestic gold market by taking advantages of the products and from both sides. The other strand is to build strong relationship between the largest gold enterprise and largest bank in China under the guidelines of the national plan and policy in this sector. The partnership will help drive industry integration, intensified operation and escalated global presence. The ultimate aim is to increase the influence and competitive edge of China's gold industry in the international market.