FINANCE

Standard Chartered CEO Says Global Banks Can’t Ignore China

Published: Feb. 4, 2026 4:49 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Bill Winters. Photo: VCG

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters said China’s wealth accumulation makes it essential for major global financial institutions, even as geopolitical tensions complicate Western engagement with Beijing.

Winters made the remarks in an interview with Caixin during a Jan. 28-31 visit to China alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The delegation included senior figures from Britain’s financial sector.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters emphasized China’s essential role for global financial institutions, despite geopolitical tensions.
The bank opened its fourth mainland China priority private wealth center and arranged a £1 billion ($1.4 billion) financing package for AESC’s UK gigafactory.
Winters highlighted the growing internationalization of the yuan and China’s importance in industrial growth and capital market development.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Standard Chartered: Standard Chartered's CEO, Bill Winters, emphasizes China's crucial role for global financial institutions despite geopolitical tensions. He states the bank won't let such factors impede cooperation due to China's business importance. Standard Chartered opened a new wealth center in Shenzhen and sees China's growth, capital markets, and yuan internationalization as vital. The bank facilitated a £1 billion financing package for AESC in the UK.

AESC: AESC, known in Chinese as 远景动力, is a lithium-ion battery subsidiary of China's Envision Group. Standard Chartered facilitated a £1 billion ($1.4 billion) financing package for AESC to construct a gigafactory in Sunderland, England, a project expected to generate over 1,000 jobs.

Envision Group: Envision Group is a Chinese company that owns AESC, a lithium-ion battery subsidiary. Standard Chartered arranged a 1 billion-pound financing package for AESC to build a gigafactory in Sunderland, England, which is expected to create over 1,000 jobs.

AI generated, for reference only