ICMA and the ICMA Centre will cooperate with NDRCTC by providing technical assistance and academic support in developing training materials and international training standards for the Corporate Finance Certificate.

The training of corporate finance professionals is key to the development of the financial markets in China. Pilot courses are being held at different locations in China throughout 2010 with a full programme planned from 2011 onwards. ICMA and the ICMA Centre at the Henley Business School, University of Reading, will provide input on design of teaching materials, course content, teaching delivery and exams, and together with NDRCTC, certification for the courses, to ensure the highest levels of internationally accepted best practice.

Ping Du, the Researcher and Director of NDRC Training Center, welcoming the agreement said: "For many years, we paid close attention to the international capital market. As a result of the gradual opening up of the Chinese market, we have seen the globalisation process of the Chinese capital market move forward. This has underlined the growing need of Chinese enterprises to attract enough qualified specialists who have a deep understanding of international capital market regulations. ICMA and ICMA Centre are one of the most professional and most targeted partners worldwide and we believe that this cooperation will bring quality corporate finance training to Chinese enterprises. With the right training and expertise in hand, this will assist Chinese enterprises to also expand in the international market and further spur the growth of the Chinese economy, which will likewise create opportunities for international capital market participants."

Martin Scheck, ICMA's Chief Executive, said: "This cooperative arrangement is absolutely in line with ICMA's central objective of enhancing efficiency in the securities markets. The provision of appropriate financial education has for many years been an important component of oour activities in conjunction with the ICMA Centre and cooperating with such an influential government sponsored body as NDRCTC in the rapidly expanding Chinese market provides a practical basis for the sharing of knowledge and expertise in China."
Professor John Board, Dean of Henley Business School and Director of the ICMA Centre, said: "I am delighted to be part of this unique agreement in which a prominent UK Business School, an international trade body and an influential Chinese training centre are combining to provide professional accreditation to a very important part of China's financial services industry. We very much look forward to working with NDRCTC to offer high quality training and professional certification in line with that already offered by ICMA and the ICMA Centre in Europe."