BEIJING -- The Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank), a state-owned policy bank, achieved stable lending expansion last year while keeping its bad loan ratio at a low level.

The bank's non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.58 percent at the end of 2021, the lowest notch in four years, according to a work conference of the China EximBank.

The outstanding loans in yuan and other currencies of the lender grew over 9.4 percent from the beginning of 2021 to 4.7 trillion yuan ($740 billion). Its yuan loans topped 3.5 trillion yuan at the end of last year, up 450 billion yuan.

In a breakdown, its outstanding lending to the Belt and Road Initiative and sectors related to foreign trade increased over 11 percent and 17 percent, respectively. The growth in outstanding loans to the manufacturing industry climbed 16.9 percent, and the green credit went up 15.4 percent.

The bank also lent to some 70,000 small and micro businesses under the country's inclusive lending program for such market entities, with the outstanding loans up 24 percent.

The China EximBank's total assets on its balance sheet surpassed 5.4 trillion yuan at the end of 2021, up over 8 percent from the beginning of the year.