When providing their credit support, the notice said, commercial banks should give priority to medium-sized and small enterprises with a good share of the market, a high level of efficiency and an unblemished credit record.

It requires state-owned commercial banks to set up specialized credit departments for serving medium-sized and small enterprises; joint-stock banks to make the support for medium-sized and small enterprises their priority; urban commercial banks and credit cooperatives should also do their part in supporting medium-sized and small enterprises.

The notice said that commercial banks should develop scientific and practical credit appraisal systems for these enterprises, and set up credit systems that are suited to them.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2002)