In this undated photo, bank employees inspect a small firm that has received a loan in Hai'an, Jiangsu province. China. (XU JINBAI / FOR CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - The Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank) has increased loan support for small and micro enterprises this year, with outstanding inclusive loans issued to these enterprises topping 170 billion yuan (about $24.6 billion) by the end of March.

The value represented a 12-percent rise compared with the beginning of this year, the bank said.

It has provided lending services for nearly 320,000 small and micro enterprises in total by the end of March.

The policy bank has especially stepped up loan support targeting small and micro enterprises in the foreign trade sector. It had extended policy loan services to over 6,000 small and micro enterprises in the foreign trade sector by the end of March, according to the bank.

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The China Eximbank is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank supporting China's foreign trade, investment, and international economic cooperation.