Chinese official states that foreign direct investment in Mainland finance sector would not pose threat to national security, writes The Standard on Monday. Xie Ping, manager of government investment agency Central Huijin, said in an interview with The Standard the main security risks in any country are bound up with its settlements system and the stability of its currency, neither of which have anything to do with bank ownership. The involvement of foreign investors has bolstered the credentials of China's banks and ensured the success of their public share offerings, he argued. Shares in Bank of Communications, China Construction Bank Corp and, most recently, Bank of China, have risen sharply since they were floated in Hong Kong. As their biggest shareholder, Huijin has made most money on paper out of the post-IPO runup in the banks' share prices. But Xie said mainland financial institutions and big firms, when approached before the IPOs, had such a poor view of the banks that they were unwilling to pay enough for the shares.