China and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding on banking supervision cooperation, the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said on its website on Sunday.

According to the memo signed by CBRC Director Liu Mingkang and Governor of Bank of Thailand Pridiyathorn Devakula during the World Bank meetings in Singapore, the two countries agreed to cooperate on banking information exchange, market access and spot inspection.

The commission said the memo would help it improve bilateral banking supervision cooperation mechanism and enhance transnational banking supervision.

By the end of August this year, three Thailand-funded banks have opened nine branches in China, while China opened one bank branch in Thailand.

CBRC has signed memos and bilateral banking supervision cooperation accords with 22 countries and regions under the principles of the Basel Committee on Banking supervision.

The Basel Committee, founded in 1975 by 10 countries, aims to promote international cooperation in banking supervisory matters.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)