The record-lending spree over the past year has left most of the Chinese lenders strapped for funds. Financial circles feel that Jiang's suggestion could well be a proposal aimed to boost the capital requirements of major State-owned banks.

Jiang, however, was quick to point out that the nation's biggest lender on its part would reduce its lending next year and reiterated that there was no immediate pressure for the bank to shore up capital.

ICBC's capital adequacy ratio stood at 12.3 percent at the end of September this year, against the statutory requirement of 11 percent for large State-owned banks.

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