China Central Bank to Set Up $70 Bln Tech Re-lending Program

People sit around near a display showing a cartoon depiction of a Panda at a shopping mall in Beijing, China, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
People sit around near a display showing a cartoon depiction of a Panda at a shopping mall in Beijing, China, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
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China Central Bank to Set Up $70 Bln Tech Re-lending Program

People sit around near a display showing a cartoon depiction of a Panda at a shopping mall in Beijing, China, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
People sit around near a display showing a cartoon depiction of a Panda at a shopping mall in Beijing, China, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

China's central bank will set up a 500 billion yuan ($70 billion) re-lending program to support the country's science and technology sectors, according to a statement released on Sunday.

The program will offer loans via 21 banks to small and midsize technology companies at an interest rate of 1.75%, Reuters reported.

The one-year loans can be extended twice, for up to a year each time, the statement said.

China's policymakers look to boost liquidity and increase confidence in the world's second-biggest economy amid headwinds from a property crisis and frictions with major trading partners.



Netanyahu, Musk Hold Talks after Congressional Address

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress, at the US Capitol in Washington, US, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress, at the US Capitol in Washington, US, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Netanyahu, Musk Hold Talks after Congressional Address

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress, at the US Capitol in Washington, US, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress, at the US Capitol in Washington, US, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Washington on Wednesday after his address to the US Congress.

"We discussed the opportunities and challenges in AI, its impact on the economy and society, and explored ways for technological cooperation with Israel," Netanyahu said in a post on X.