Bank of China, acting as the lead underwriter and bookrunner, recently assisted Barclays PLC in issuing its first 2 billion yuan panda bonds in China's interbank market. The issuance included 1 billion yuan with a three-year maturity and another 1 billion yuan with a five-year maturity (including a call option), carrying coupon rates of 1.95% and 2.05%, respectively.

This marks the first panda bond issuance by a UK-based issuer, attracting strong participation from both domestic and international investors. Barclays' debut in China's panda bond market sets a significant precedent, offering a reference for other high-quality international issuers seeking diversified financing channels. This move is crucial in promoting regular participation by global issuers in China's domestic bond market.

In recent years, the panda bond market has seen steady expansion, with optimized regulations and an increasing number of high-quality overseas issuers. Its growing appeal to investors has played a vital role in supporting initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, green development, and industrial upgrading.

As a key player in the panda bond market, Bank of China has ranked as the top underwriter for 11 consecutive years. Leveraging its extensive project experience and unique market insights, the bank will continue to facilitate more high-quality issuers in entering the Chinese market, contributing to the advancement of high-level financial openness.