By London correspondents, Huadong Jiang, Jie Song

GF International Asset Management (UK ) , the European division of GF Fund Management, launched its first fund product, the GF International-FTSE China A UCITS ETF on London Stock Exchange on 12th Jan. The ETF gives investors access to large and mid-cap equities on ShangHai and Shenzhen stock exchanges via the RQFII scheme, and it is denominated in USD.

This ETF is the very first one to track the FTSE China A Index in Europe, which is part of the FTSE Global China A Inclusion Index Series. And it is also the very first ETF from a Chinese asset management based in Europe. GF International is the eighth Chinese firm to issue an ETF on London Stock Exchange.

As China A share is not included into the world benchmark index, the FTSE Global China A Inclusion Index provides a unique tool for market participants to get prepared for the final inclusion of A-share.

Mr Chuanhui Lin, CEO of GF Fund Management, announcing the launch, said, "Since opening the Chinese market to international investors is no longer a question of if but how, this ETF will have an important role to play in promoting international investment in China. It also marks the next step for our strategic growth."

Mark Makepeace, the CEO of FTSE Russell said: "China Continues to make good progress toward opening its domestic A-share market to foreign investors and we expect to see investors and issuers progressively use the transition indexes, such as the FTSE Global China A Inclusion Indexes, to manage the move."