Foreign banks see record profits in China despite economic slowdown

 BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Global banks posted record profits from their Chinese operations last year, with many foreign lenders expecting annual growth of about 20 percent up till 2015, according to a survey released Tuesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Combined net profits of 181 foreign banks more than doubled to 16.73 billion yuan (2.65 billion U.S. dollars) in 2011 from 7.78 billion yuan in 2010, boosted by multinationals¹' investment growth in China, according to the survey, which polled chief executives, senior managers and branch presidents of 41 foreign banks.

Assets of those foreign banks in China expanded 24 percent year-on-year to 2.15 trillion yuan last year, PwC said in the survey report.

"The fundamental challenge for the foreign banks over the next three years will be balancing the investment and needs of a dynamic and fast-developing Chinese market against the constraints² of a slowing economy back home," PwC Financial Services Advisory³ Partner William Yung said in the report.

Since the first quarter of 2011, China's economy has slowed for six consecutive⁴ quarters, with its gross domestic product expanding only 7.6 percent in the second quarter of this year, the slowest growth pace in three years.

Foreign banks are more dedicated⁵ to their Chinese investments now than since 2008, as China continues to liberalize its currency and restrictions⁶ on its financial system, the survey found.

1 multinationals   

跨国公司( multinational的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These local companies are only small fry compared with the huge multinationals. 同那些跨国公司比，这些当地的公司不过是小鱼小虾。
• Some people believe that the multinationals have too much power. 有人认为跨国公司的权力太大了。

2 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

4 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

5 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制