China's AML Framework Elevates in 2026
On January 22, 2026, the People's Bank of China convened its annual anti-money laundering (AML) meeting to outline the year’s strategic priorities.
The meeting highlighted the urgency of adapting to evolving financial crime risks, emphasizing the need to strengthen governance through advanced party leadership and institutional reform.
Five Strategic Priorities
First, the meeting reiterated the importance of deepening internal discipline and governance within the AML sector, ensuring political integrity supports operational efficiency.
- Strengthening internal party governance in the AML sector
- Preparing comprehensively for the fifth round of global AML evaluations
- Accelerating the implementation of the revised PRC Anti-Money Laundering Law
- Enhancing financial institutions' compliance oversight and beneficial ownership data quality
- Establishing a long-term mechanism to combat money laundering and improving monitoring capabilities
Officials also stressed the importance of interagency coordination to enhance national financial security and regulatory effectiveness.
This year's gathering sets a clear roadmap for China’s AML development, signaling a shift toward more structured, intelligent, and collaborative governance.