The move comes at a time when the offshore bond market is shrinking amid cheaper onshore funding costs, and there are concerns about the falling yuan and the strengthening US dollar.
Beginning 3 May, financial institutions and corporations no longer need to gain approval from the authorities before issuance. The bonds can be denominated in either yuan or other foreign currencies.
The amount of issuance will be capped by a ratio linked with their net assets and risk-adjusted assets.
A pilot program was launched in January for 27 financial institutions and companies registered in the four free trade zones.
Foreign debt
China’s foreign debt fell from $1.68trn (£1.1trn, €1.46trn) in the second quarter of last year to $1.42trn at the end of 2015, according to State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
In particular, outstanding dim sum bonds (offshore yuan bonds) grew only 6% only to $86.7bn, the slowest on record. Dim sum bond issuance fell by 42% to $25.5bn last year, according to Fitch.
Dim sum bonds have about a 100-150 basis points premium as of last month, which discouraged more issuance.
But Fitch said to expect a pickup in the short-term as concerns ease over yuan depreciation. In the medium-term, offshore bonds should be supported by the internationalisation of the currency, particularly as China’s one-belt-one-road initiative rolls out.
