Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the Chinese banking industry, reflecting confidence in its long-term investment value amid macroeconomic development [4][6]. Core Insights - The Chinese banking industry is transitioning from a "scale-driven, interest-dominated" model to a "balanced, multi-driven" approach, indicating a fundamental shift in growth dynamics [2][3]. - The industry's return on equity (ROE) is currently at 9.50%, which is stable but in a phase of decline, primarily due to increased capital constraints and narrowing net interest margins [1][10]. - There is significant reliance on net interest income (39.92%) compared to international peers, while fee and commission income (7.40%) remains low, highlighting potential areas for revenue structure optimization [1][10]. Summary by Sections Industry Overview - The report provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of the Chinese banking industry over the past two decades, emphasizing the impact of macroeconomic cycles, policy directions, and financial regulations [13][14]. - The banking sector has experienced various phases, including the "Golden Era" (2002-2008) characterized by rapid growth, the "Silver Era" (2008-2017) driven by infrastructure and real estate, and the current "New Normal" focusing on high-quality development [17][19][21]. Performance Analysis - Profitability has been stable, but the ROE is under pressure due to systemic increases in capital adequacy ratios and declining net interest margins [2][10]. - The asset scale growth is slowing, with a notable increase in financial asset investments, while loan growth rates are tapering off [3][10]. International Comparison - The report compares the Chinese banking model with international counterparts, identifying the U.S. model as a high-performing, diversified approach, while the European and Japanese models adapt to low-interest environments with lower profitability [2][10]. Future Outlook - The future trajectory of the Chinese banking industry is expected to focus on transforming from "scale banks" to "value banks," with an emphasis on innovation and service to the real economy [3][5]. - Key growth areas include technology innovation, green finance, and inclusive finance, which are anticipated to provide new credit demand and growth points [3][5]. Investment Recommendations - Investors are advised to focus on two types of institutions: large state-owned banks and leading joint-stock banks with strong customer bases and risk resilience, as well as high-quality regional banks with distinctive features in niche markets [6][10].