The Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank)?said on Monday its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio dropped in the first half, amid efforts to improve its business structure.

The NPL ratio fell to 1.8 percent as of June, compared with 2.45 percent a year earlier. Outstanding loans totaled 412.3 billion yuan (58.9 billion U.S. dollars), up 91.3 billion yuan from last year.

New loans totaled 154.6 billion yuan, up 66.77 percent year-on-year, while total assets rose 16.5 percent to 610.8 billion yuan.

Bank governor Li Ruogu attributed the decline in the NPL ratio and the rise in lending to innovation, structural reform, cooperation with overseas lenders and improved risk management improvement.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)