BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s banking regulator said on Sunday it had granted approval for nine foreign banks to prepare for local registration, an initial step in granting national treatment.

The nine are Standard Chartered, Bank of East Asia, HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, DBS , Bank of Toyko-Mitsubishi, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Citigroup Inc. and ABN AMRO.

The list was published on the banking regulator’s Web site (www.cbrc.gov.cn).

The mainland issued new foreign bank guidelines on November 16 to fulfill its obligations for entry into the World Trade Organization, which stipulates that the country must further open its banking sector to overseas competition from December 11.