China will offer more opportunities for international finance corporations to do business in the country, as it opens gradually its financial market, a Chinese leader said in Beijing Friday.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told the visiting James Schiro, chief executive officer of Zurich Financial Services, that the Chinese government "attaches importance to financial reform."

He said China welcomes Zurich Financial Services and other international finance companies to invest in China.

Jia expressed appreciation for the contributions the Zurich financial service group has made to the promotion of exchanges between China and the international insurance industry.

Schiro said the Zurich group is confident for the development of China's economy and financial market, and would like to further cooperation with China in the financial field.

The Zurich financial service group is one of the first insurance companies in Europe to have established office in China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2004)