The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) was founded on Nov. 26th, 1990 and in operation on 19th Dec the same year. It is a non-profit-making membership institution directly governed by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). The SSE bases its development on the principle of "legislation, supervision, self-regulation and standardization" to create a transparent, open, safe and efficient marketplace. The SSE endeavors to realize a variety of functions: providing marketplace
and facilities for the securities trading; formulating business rules; accepting and arranging listings; organizing and monitoring securities trading; regulating members and listed companies; managing and disseminating market information.

After several years' operation, the SSE has become the most preeminent stock market in Mainl and China in terms of number of listed companies, number of shares listed, total market value, tradable market value, securities turnover in value, stock turnover in value and the T-bond turnover in value. December 2004 ended with over 37.87 million investors and 837 listed companies. The total market capitalization of SSE hit RMB 2.6 trillion. In 2004, Capital raised from SSE market surpassed
RMB 45.7 billion. A large number of companies from key industries, infrastructure and high-tech sectors have not only raised capital, but also improved their operation mechanism through listing on Shanghai stock market.
Entering the new century，SSE is faced with great opportunities as well as challenges to further boost the market construction and regulation. Combining the cutting-edge hardware facilities，favorable policy conditions in Pudong, exemplary role of Shanghai economy, SSE is fully committed to the goal of State-owned industrial enterprises reform and developing Shanghai into an international financial center with great confidence.

The Shenzhen Stock Exchange (the SSE) is a mutualized national stock exchange under the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the CSRC), that provides a venue for securities trading. A broad spectrum of market participants, including 540 listed companies, 35 million registered investors and 177 exchange members, create the market. Here buying and selling orders are matched in a fair, open and orderly market, through an automated system to create the best possible prices based on price-time priority.
Since its creation in 1990, the SSE has blossomed into a market of great competitive edges in the country, with a market capitalization around RMB 1 trillion (US$ 122 billion). On a daily basis, around 600,000 deals, valued US$ 807 million, trade on the SSE.
China securities market is undergoing fundamental changes. The implementation of the new Securities Law, Company Law, self-innovation strategy as well as the development of non-tradable share reform embodies enormous opportunities to the market. Adhering to the principle of “Regulation, Innovation, Cultivation and Service”, the SSE will continue to maintain its focus on developing the Small and Medium Enterprises Board, while seeking for a tier market.