Core Viewpoint - The "14th Five-Year Plan" period has been significant for China's financial risk prevention and resolution, with a focus on reducing the number of high-risk financial institutions and enhancing the financial stability framework [1][3][10]. Group 1: Financial Institution Reform - As of June 2025, the number of financial institutions participating in deposit insurance has decreased to 3,554 from 4,025 at the end of 2020, indicating a trend of consolidation and reduction in the number of small banks [1]. - The reform of small and medium-sized banks has accelerated, with significant efforts in capital replenishment, restructuring, and market exit strategies [4][10]. - Since 2022, ten provinces have established new provincial-level rural commercial banks or cooperative banks, following a "one province, one policy" approach to address regional small bank risks [5][6]. Group 2: Risk Management and Financial Stability - The "14th Five-Year Plan" emphasizes the need to prevent and resolve shadow banking risks and to orderly handle high-risk financial institutions, particularly focusing on small banks [2][4]. - The number of high-risk financial institutions has halved since the peak in Q3 2019, with a notable concentration in rural credit institutions and village banks [3][4]. - By the end of 2023, 3,579 out of 3,936 evaluated banks were rated within a safe boundary, with high-risk institutions reduced by nearly 300 from peak levels [4]. Group 3: Future Outlook and Recommendations - The upcoming "15th Five-Year Plan" will focus on integrating risk resolution with the transformation of local small financial institutions, highlighting the importance of both aspects [10][12]. - Recommendations for improving the situation include enhancing the role of small banks, implementing differentiated regulation, and supporting their capital strength and service capabilities [13]. - The establishment of a financial stability guarantee fund and improvements in the deposit insurance system are crucial for effective risk management and prevention of systemic financial risks [7][14][15].

Core Insights - The "14th Five-Year Plan" has emphasized the importance of financial risk prevention and resolution, leading to a more robust financial firewall against internal and external risks [1][3][12] - The number of high-risk financial institutions has significantly decreased, with a notable reduction from a peak of 649 institutions in Q3 2019 to approximately 357 by the end of 2023 [3][4][10] - The reform and risk resolution efforts for small and medium-sized banks have accelerated, focusing on capital replenishment, mergers, and market exits [4][5][11] Financial Risk Prevention and Resolution - As of June 2025, the number of financial institutions participating in deposit insurance has decreased to 3,554 from 4,025 at the end of 2020, indicating a trend of consolidation [1] - The "14th Five-Year Plan" has called for a financial safety strategy, which includes the establishment of a financial stability guarantee fund to address risk [6][12] - The financial stability guarantee fund is designed to work alongside the deposit insurance fund, creating a comprehensive risk management framework [7][12] High-Risk Financial Institutions - The proportion of high-risk financial institutions has been declining, with the asset ratio of these institutions dropping to 1.78% of total banking assets by the end of 2023 [4][12] - The majority of high-risk institutions are concentrated in rural credit institutions and village banks, with significant regional disparities in risk levels [3][4] Reform of Small and Medium-Sized Banks - Since 2022, ten provinces have established provincial-level rural commercial banks or cooperative banks to facilitate structural reorganization and risk resolution in local small banks [5][11] - The reform efforts for small and medium-sized banks have been characterized by a focus on enhancing their operational capabilities and financial health [11][12] Future Outlook - The "15th Five-Year Plan" aims to integrate risk resolution with the transformation and development of local small and medium-sized financial institutions, highlighting the importance of both aspects [9][10] - Recommendations for future actions include optimizing the regulatory environment for small banks, enhancing their capital strength, and improving their service capabilities through financial technology [11][12] - The focus will also be on strengthening the financial safety net and enhancing the ability to respond to external risks, particularly in light of global economic uncertainties [8][13]