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US$45b bank bailout will be a big talking point

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The US$45 billion bailout of two of the Big Four state banks will be a hot topic among NPC delegates.

While the injection of money into the China Construction Bank and the Bank of China has been welcomed by financial experts as a golden pill that will ease their listings on public markets, many delegates are likely to ask hard questions about how the banks plan to spend the money.

'It might be the last effort for the government to reform commercial banking. There is no room to fail,' said Chen Dong, a banking analyst at China Galaxy Securities in Beijing.

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This will be particularly relevant because Premier Wen Jiabao is now reported to be critical of the bailout. Those at the conference who raise their voice in opposition will have support at the top levels.

The meetings of the NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference will be an opportunity for the leadership to sound out the country's legislators on the major reforms under way in the country's banking system.

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They are not expected to announce new policies, but are likely to be listening closely to delegates' views on financial policy, considered the key to the success of economic reforms.

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