GLEIF opens China office to support LEI demand
28 October 2025 China
Image: eyetronic/stock.adobe.com
The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), headquartered in Switzerland, has established a representative office in China within the Shanghai Lin-gang Special Area.
With the expansion, the firm intends to support the growing demand for the legal entity identifier (LEI) and the verifiable LEI (vLEI) across the region.
The establishment of the new office, headed by Yanzhao Zhang, will play a pivotal role in supporting the continued advancement and expansion of the LEI and vLEI issuance infrastructure across Greater China.
The office will also foster increased engagement and collaboration with key financial authorities and market infrastructures while supporting broader ecosystem initiatives.
Alexandre Kech, GLEIF CEO, says: 鈥淐hina is at the forefront in demonstrating the important role that trusted, digital organisational identity can play in breaking down the trust and transparency barriers that inhibit global trade flows.
鈥淭his presents a powerful opportunity to leverage the scale and dynamism of the Chinese economy to accelerate LEI and vLEI uptake 鈥� opening up new markets and opportunities for all businesses of any size, wherever they are in the world.鈥�
China is a key jurisdiction within the Global LEI System and has previously shown support for the use of LEIs.
In December 2020, the People's Bank of China revealed a roadmap for LEI adoption which saw the integration of the LEI in payment systems and digital certificates.
According to the GLEIF, there is now growing momentum for the LEI and the vLEI in China to promote economic inclusion and growth by streamlining cross-border finance and enabling the digitalisation of global trade.
The new office's strategic location within the Shanghai Lin-gang Special Area directly reflects dedicated initiatives to bolster the local application of the LEI.
This follows the introduction of a package of 50 measures encouraging companies in the Lin-gang Special Area to use the LEI for cross-border verification and key trade documents, such as electronic bills of lading, warehouse receipts, and invoices.
The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Special Area Administration has also announced that it will subsidise the costs associated with LEI issuance for all companies operating within the area through the end of 2028.
According to GLEIF, this is expected to further enhance the efficiency of entity identification and promote compliance with international standards in cross-border trade.
Yisong Lin, director of Division of Yangshan Special Free Trade & Transportation Zone, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Special Area Administration, adds: "The Lin-gang Special Area is actively driving the digital transformation of shipping and trade.
鈥淲ith GLEIF establishing a representative office in the Yangshan Free Trade Zone, we will work together to explore the use of verifiable identities and cross-border interoperability, providing strong support for the broader application of electronic bills of lading.鈥�
Opening an office in China further increases GLEIF's presence across Asia Pacific, following openings in Mumbai in 2024, Singapore in 2023, and the Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo in 2021.
GLEIF now has a network of seven offices worldwide to ensure local representation in key countries globally.
With the expansion, the firm intends to support the growing demand for the legal entity identifier (LEI) and the verifiable LEI (vLEI) across the region.
The establishment of the new office, headed by Yanzhao Zhang, will play a pivotal role in supporting the continued advancement and expansion of the LEI and vLEI issuance infrastructure across Greater China.
The office will also foster increased engagement and collaboration with key financial authorities and market infrastructures while supporting broader ecosystem initiatives.
Alexandre Kech, GLEIF CEO, says: 鈥淐hina is at the forefront in demonstrating the important role that trusted, digital organisational identity can play in breaking down the trust and transparency barriers that inhibit global trade flows.
鈥淭his presents a powerful opportunity to leverage the scale and dynamism of the Chinese economy to accelerate LEI and vLEI uptake 鈥� opening up new markets and opportunities for all businesses of any size, wherever they are in the world.鈥�
China is a key jurisdiction within the Global LEI System and has previously shown support for the use of LEIs.
In December 2020, the People's Bank of China revealed a roadmap for LEI adoption which saw the integration of the LEI in payment systems and digital certificates.
According to the GLEIF, there is now growing momentum for the LEI and the vLEI in China to promote economic inclusion and growth by streamlining cross-border finance and enabling the digitalisation of global trade.
The new office's strategic location within the Shanghai Lin-gang Special Area directly reflects dedicated initiatives to bolster the local application of the LEI.
This follows the introduction of a package of 50 measures encouraging companies in the Lin-gang Special Area to use the LEI for cross-border verification and key trade documents, such as electronic bills of lading, warehouse receipts, and invoices.
The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Special Area Administration has also announced that it will subsidise the costs associated with LEI issuance for all companies operating within the area through the end of 2028.
According to GLEIF, this is expected to further enhance the efficiency of entity identification and promote compliance with international standards in cross-border trade.
Yisong Lin, director of Division of Yangshan Special Free Trade & Transportation Zone, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Special Area Administration, adds: "The Lin-gang Special Area is actively driving the digital transformation of shipping and trade.
鈥淲ith GLEIF establishing a representative office in the Yangshan Free Trade Zone, we will work together to explore the use of verifiable identities and cross-border interoperability, providing strong support for the broader application of electronic bills of lading.鈥�
Opening an office in China further increases GLEIF's presence across Asia Pacific, following openings in Mumbai in 2024, Singapore in 2023, and the Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo in 2021.
GLEIF now has a network of seven offices worldwide to ensure local representation in key countries globally.
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