Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on the People’s Bank of China Exchange Rate Action

April 14, 2012

Press Release No. 12/133
April 14, 2012

Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today in reaction to the People’s Bank of China announcement on April 13 that the renminbi’s trading band against the U.S. dollar in the inter-bank foreign exchange market would be widened to 1.0 percent from 0.5 percent:

"I would like to welcome this important step by the People's Bank of China to increase the flexibility of their currency. This underlines China's commitment to rebalance its economy toward domestic consumption and allow market forces to play a greater role in determining the level of the exchange rate."

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