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Changes that will allow the mainland's small to medium-sized companies to issue high-yield bonds to raise money could be agreed next month. China's securities regulator is taking a step closer to launching a high-yield bond market after drawing up a draft rule governing debt issuance by lower-grade companies, a move that will widen access to much-needed capital for thousands of small and medium-sized firms. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) will review the draft rule before submitting the proposal to the State Council for final approval. Currently, only large companies with credit rating above AA are allowed to issue bonds on the stock exchanges, and unlisted firms seeking debt financing on the bourses are shut out from the market, though corporate and securities laws do not limit bond issuances by small or non-listed companies. The new CSRC chairman is adamant that the debt market will be liberalised and it is expected that the draft rule would be approved by the regulator soon. rnAccording to the official China Securities Journal, top policymakers will agree to create a high-yield bond market next month after the end of the National People's Congress. rnChina has been taking a cautious stance on the high-yield bond market, also known as the junk debt market, amid worries about lower-grade companies' solvency. IBUonline is a B2B platform on which the China suppliers especially SMEs can contact international buyers directly. SMEs can find out more business opportunities on B2B platforms. Please go to IBUonline platform for more details.