Citigroup is seeking an approval to lift stakes in Pudong Development Bank when it is also in a long-running battle for control of another Chinese bank, midsize lender Guangdong Development Bank, The Wall Street Journal reported. The paper quoted Citigroup Senior Vice Chairman William Rhodes as saying the U.S. bank is waiting for government and shareholder approval to complete a plan announced late last year to raise its stake in Shanghai Pudong to 19.9 percent from 4.2 percent. The bank has been jockeying with Société Générale SA, of France, and Ping An Insurance Group Co., of China, for the rare chance to control a Chinese bank, even though Guangdong Development Bank is laden with bad loans and hasn't published audited financial information in two years. A decision on the winner is expected by month's end. "We rate China, if not our lead priority, one of our lead priorities," said Mr. Rhodes.