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Embattled Chinese property developer Vanke’s chairman steps down as debt pressures mount

News of a leadership change boosts bonds of China Vanke, which had nearly US$90 billion in liabilities as of September

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Xin Jie has resigned as chairman and non-executive director of China Vanke. Photo: Handout

The chairman of embattled China Vanke has abruptly stepped down after being appointed early this year, in another blow to the debt-laden property developer.

Vanke’s board of directors received a resignation letter from Xin Jie on Sunday. Xin applied to resign as chairman and non-executive director, and would no longer hold any position in the company after his resignation, the developer said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday.

Xin, who has a state-linked background, was appointed in January after Shenzhen-based Vanke, once the second-largest Chinese developer by sales, reshuffled its management amid heavy losses. The net loss stood at 11.95 billion yuan (US$1.67 billion) in the first half of 2025, down 21.3 per cent year on year. The developer had 641 billion yuan in liabilities, according to its interim result released in September.

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Xin is also the chairman of state-owned Shenzhen Metro Group, the developer’s largest shareholder, with a 27.2 per cent stake.

China Vanke, once among the country’s biggest developers, is a casualty of a campaign in 2020 to curb excessive borrowing by property companies and cool an overheated housing market. Photo: AFP
China Vanke, once among the country’s biggest developers, is a casualty of a campaign in 2020 to curb excessive borrowing by property companies and cool an overheated housing market. Photo: AFP
The news boosted Vanke’s bonds as it sent positive signals about its ability to pay its debts after a bond sell-off triggered ratings downgrades from Fitch Ratings and S&P Global in January.
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