Date: October 18, 2011
Source: Futures Daily
By Li Lei

　　Recently, Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) was officially approved by Futures Industry Association Asia (FIA Asia) as a full member, and SHFE has become the first exchange on the Chinese mainland to join FIA Asia.
　　FIA Asia, founded in 2007, is a FIA branch that established to promote the development of futures market in Asia and the Pacific Rim. FIA Asia now has more than 40 members of three categories, including various institutions such as exchanges, financial firms, brokerage firms, and technology companies.
　　SHFE joined FIA in 2002.
　　Executive Director of FIA Asia Nick Ronalds said that since the global market and regulatory structure is still not clear, the importance of centralized derivatives clearing markets such as futures markets is rising, so is that of FIA Asia to its members. The Chinese futures markets, exchanges and market participants will undoubtedly play a more prominent role, and will continue to integrate into the international market.