The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) on Sunday urged banks to "take effective measures to ensure loans for the country's economic growth and meanwhile prevent risks, in a bid to maintain sound and fast economic development."

The policy is "guaranteeing money supply to some sectors while controlling money supply to some other sectors", said a spokesman for the commission.

The spokesman said that commercial banks have increased lending since the end of June, especially to small firms, energy-saving projects and those concerning agriculture, farmers and rural areas.

The spokesman said the commission has urged commercial banks to increase lending to post-disaster reconstruction.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2008)