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China Life Insurance Company

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FY2009 Annual Report · China Life Insurance Company
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Stock Code: 2628

Annual Report 2009

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The  Company  is  a  life  insurance  company  established  in  Beijing,  China  on  30  June  2003  according  to  the  Company  Law  of  the  People’s 
Republic of China. The Company was successfully listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai 
Stock Exchange on 17 and 18 December 2003, and 9 January 2007, respectively. The Company’s registered capital is RMB28,264,705,000.

The  Company  is  the  largest  life  insurance  company  in  China’s  life  insurance  market.  Our  distribution  network,  comprising  exclusive  agents, 
direct  sales  representatives,  and  dedicated  and  non-dedicated  agencies,  is  the  most  extensive  one  in  China.  The  Company  is  one  of  the  largest 
institutional  investors  in  China,  and  through  its  controlling  shareholding  in  China  Life  Assets  Management  Company  Limited,  the  Company 
is  the  largest  insurance  asset  management  company  in  China.  The  Company  also  holds  a  controlling  stake  in  China  Life  Pension  Company 
Limited.

Our  products  and  services  include  individual  life  insurance,  group  life  insurance,  accident  and  health  insurance.  The  Company  is  a  leading 
provider  of  annuity  products  and  life  insurance  for  both  individuals  and  groups,  and  a  leading  provider  of  accident  and  health  insurance  in 
China.  As  at  31  December  2009,  the  Company  had  nearly  115  million  individual  and  group  life  policies  and  annuities,  and  long-term  health 
insurance policies in force. We also provide both individual and group accident and short-term health insurance policies and services.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Contents

1

Definitions 

Company Profile 

Financial Summary 

Chairman’s Statement 

Management Discussion and Analysis 

Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings of Substantial Shareholders 

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees 

Corporate Governance 

Report of the Board of Directors 

Report of the Supervisory Committee 

Significant Events 

Honors & Awards 

Report of Auditor 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

Statement of Financial Position 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 

Embedded Value 

2

3

6

7

11

22

28

40

64

68

72

78

79

81

83

85

87

88

90

187

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

2

Defi nitions

The Company1 

China Life Insurance Company Limited and its subsidiaries

CLIC 

AMC 

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

China Life Asset Management Company Limited,
a subsidiary of the Company

Pension Company 

China Life Pension Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Company

P&C Company 

China Life Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited

CIRC 

CSRC 

HKSE 

SSE 

Company Law 

Securities Law  

China Insurance Regulatory Commission

China Securities Regulatory Commission

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

Shanghai Stock Exchange

Company Law of the People’s Republic of China

Securities Law of the People’s Republic of China

Articles of Association 

Articles of Association of China Life Insurance Company Limited

China 

Yuan 

for the purpose of this annual report, “China” refers to the People’s
Republic of China, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan region

Renminbi Yuan

1 

except for “the Company” referred to in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Company Profi le

3

Registered Name in Chinese:

  中國人壽保險股份有限公司(簡稱“中國人壽”)

Registered Name in English:

  China Life Insurance Company Limited (“China Life”)

Legal Representative:

  Yang Chao

Secretary to the Board of Directors:

  Liu Yingqi
  Office Address: 16 Financial Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, P.R.China 100033
  Telephone: 86-10-63631191
  Fax: 86-10-66575112
  Email: ir@e-chinalife.com

Securities Representative:

  Lan Yuxi
  Office Address: 16 Financial Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, P.R.China 100033
  Telephone: 86-10-63631068
  Fax: 86-10-66575112
  Email: lanyuxi@e-chinalife.com

Registered Office Address:

  16 Chaowai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing, P.R.China 100020

Current Office Address:

  16 Financial Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, P.R.China 100033
  Telephone: 86-10-63633333
  Fax: 86-10-66575722
  Website: www.e-chinalife.com
  Email: ir@e-chinalife.com

Hong Kong Office:

  Address: 25th Floor, C.L.I. Building, 313 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
  Telephone: 852-29192628
  Fax: 852-29192638

Newspapers for Company’s A Share Disclosure:

  China Securities Journal
  Shanghai Securities News
  Securities Times

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

4

Company Profi le

CSRC’s nominated Website for the Company’s Annual Report Disclosure:

  www.sse.com.cn

Company’s H Share Disclosure Websites:

  The Company’s website at www.e-chinalife.com
  HKSE’s HKExnews website at www.hkexnews.hk

Location where the Company’s Annual Reports may be Obtained:

  12/F, China Life Plaza, 16 Financial Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, P.R.China

Stock Information:

A Share:

Shanghai Stock Exchange 

H Share:

The Stock Exchange of
  Hong Kong Limited

ADR:

New York Stock Exchange

Short Name: China Life

Short Name: China Life

Stock Code: LFC

Stock Code: 601628

Stock Code: 2628

H Share Registrar and Transfer Office:

  Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited
  Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Depositary:

  Deutsche Bank2
  60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005

Domestic Legal Adviser:

  King & Wood

International Legal Advisers:

  Latham & Watkins
  Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
  Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Date of First Registration of the Company:

  30 June 2003

Initial Registered Address of the Company:

  16 Chaowai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing, P.R.China 100020

Corporate Business Licence Serial Number:

  1000001003796

2 

the Company’s Depository bank changed from JPMorgan Chase Bank to Deutsche Bank on 4 January 2010.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Company Profi le

5

Tax Registration Certificate Number:

  11010271092841X

Organization Code:
  71092841-X

Auditors of the Company:
Domestic Auditor:

  PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian Certified Public Accountants Limited Company
  Address: 11F, PricewaterhouseCoopers Center, Corporate Avenue 2, 202 Hu Bin Road, Luwan District,

  Shanghai 200021, P.R. China

International Auditor:

  PricewaterhouseCoopers
  Address: 22/F, Prince’s Building, Central, Hong Kong

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

6

Financial Summary

Under International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) 

Under Hong Kong Financial
 Reporting Standards (HKFRS)

RMB million

Major Financial Data 

2009 

2008 

Change 

2008 

2007 

2006 

2005

For the year ended 2009
Total revenues 
  Net premiums earned 
Benefits, claims and expenses 

Insurance benefits and claims 

Net profit before income tax expenses 
Net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company 
Net cash inflow from operating activities 

As at 31 December 2009
Total assets 

Investment assets 

Total liabilities 
Total shareholders’ equity 

Per share (RMB Yuan)
Earnings per share (basic and diluted) 
Shareholders’ equity per share 
Net cash inflow from operating activities per share 

Major financial ratio
Weighted average ROE (%) 

Ratio of assets and liabilities (%) 

Gross investment yield (%) 

339,290 
275,077 
298,249 
237,038 
41,745 
32,881 
149,700 

1,226,257 
1,172,145 
1,013,481 
211,072 

1.16 
7.47 
5.30 

17.13 

82.65 

5.78 

300,385 
265,177 
280,370 
231,949 
19,959 
19,137 
126,077 

987,493 
937,403 
812,622 
173,947 

0.68 
6.15 
4.46 

13.0% 
3.7% 
6.4% 
2.2% 
109.2% 
71.8% 
18.7% 

166,811 
120,926 
144,235 
89,823 
22,804 
21,277 
84,779 

24.2%  1,044,828 
937,403 
25.0% 
863,255 
24.7% 
180,649 
21.3% 

191,372 
103,713 
146,390 
76,288 
45,391 
38,879 
122,854 

933,704 
850,209 
727,328 
205,500 

147,311 
91,750 
121,706 
68,420 
25,605 
19,956 
80,352 

764,395 
686,804 
624,190 
139,665 

98,212
73,955
86,702
54,029
11,510
9,306
31,828

559,219
494,356
478,410
80,378

71.8% 
21.3% 
18.7% 

0.75 
6.39 
3.00 

1.38 
7.27 
4.35 

0.75 
4.94 
2.84 

0.35
2.84
1.13

10.29 

82.29 

3.48 

increase of 6.84 
  percentage points
increase of 0.36 
  percentage points
increase of 2.30 
  percentage points

11.07 

22.53 

18.14 

12.67

82.62 

77.90 

81.66 

85.55

3.40 

10.24 

7.97 

3.80

Note 1:  Net profit refers to net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company, while shareholders’s equity refers to shareholders’ 

equity attributable to shareholders of the Company.

Note 2:  Investment assets = Cash and cash equivalents + Securities at fair value through income + Available-for-sale securities + Held-

to-maturity securities + Term deposits + Securities purchased under agreements to resell + Loans + Statutory deposits-restricted

Note 3:  Ratio of assets and liabilities = Total assets/Total liabilities

Note 4:  Gross investment yield = (Investment income + Net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets + Net fair value gains/(losses) on 

assets at fair value through income - Business tax and extra charges for investment)/((Investment assets at the beginning of the 

period + Investment assets at the end of the period)/2)

Note 5:  For an explanation in relation to the first-time adoption of IFRS, please find details in Note 2 in the Notes to the Consolidated 

Financial Statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Chairman’s Statement

7

“To  proactively  explore  a  distinct 
development  path  with  China  Life 
characteristics,  which  will  steadily  lead  the 
Company  to  the  goal  of  being  a  fi rst-class 
international life insurance company.”

Yang Chao, Chairman

The  year  2009  was  the  most  difficult  year  for  economic  development  in  China  after  embarking  on  the  century.  The 
deep  recession  of  the  global  economy  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  substantially  impacted  on  the  Chinese  economy. 
With timely stimulus measures implemented by the Chinese government, the Chinese economy became one of the first 
to  recover.  Facing  complex  and  volatile  external  operating  environment,  the  Company  adhered  to  the  guidelines  laid 
down by the scientific concept of development and the overall strategy of ‘seeking stable growth, improving profitability 
through  business  restructuring,  deepening  reforms  and  strengthening  internal  control’.  The  Company  strived  to  turn 
challenges into opportunities, overcame various difficulties, and achieved stable and healthy business development.

In  accordance  with  the  regulations  of  the  Company’s  onshore  and  offshore  listed  jurisdictions,  starting  from 
the  Reporting  Period,  accounting  policy  changes  were  made  to  the  Company’s  onshore  financial  report,  and  the 
International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  were  adopted  for  its  offshore  financial  report.  During  the  Reporting 
Period,  the  Company’s  total  revenues  reached  RMB339,290  million,  up  13.0%  year-on-year.  Net  profit  attributable 
to  shareholders  of  the  Company  was  RMB32,881  million,  up  71.8%  year-on-year,  and  earnings  per  share  (basic  and 
diluted)  were  RMB1.16.  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company’s  total  assets  reached  RMB1,226,257 
million,  up  24.2%  from  2008.  The  Company’s  embedded  value  was  RMB285,229  million,  up  18.8%  from  2008.  The 
Company’s  market  share3  in  2009  was  approximately  36.2%,  maintaining  its  leading  position  in  the  life  insurance 
market of China.

The Board of Directors of the Company recommended the payment of a final dividend of RMB0.70 per share. This will 
come into effect after shareholders’ approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday, 4 June 2010.

The  Company  was  named  in  ‘Forbes  Global  2000’  for  the  sixth  consecutive  year,  ranking  No.  72.  China  Life  was 
named  in  ‘Fortune  Global  500’  for  the  seventh  consecutive  year,  ranking  No.  133.  The  ‘China  Life’  brand  was  named 
in  the  World  Brand  Lab’s  ‘The  World’s  500  Most  Influential  Brands’  for  the  third  consecutive  year.  The  Company’s 
comprehensive strength and brand value have been enhanced.

3 

According to the premiums data of life insurance companies released by CIRC.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

8

Chairman’s Statement

REVIEW OF 2009
The  Company  strived  to  seek  growth  while  maintaining  steady  and  healthy  business  performance.  It  focused  on 
adjusting  its  business  structure  to  enhance  business  profitability  and  achieved  significant  progress.  For  the  Reporting 
Period,  the  Company’s  net  premiums  earned  reached  RMB275,077  million,  up  3.7%  year-on-year.  The  percentage 
of  first-year  regular  premiums  in  first-year  long-term  premiums  increased  to  25.42%  in  2009  from  21.39%  in  2008, 
and the percentage of first-year regular premiums with payment duration of 10 years or longer increased from 38.32% 
of  first-year  regular  premiums  to  49.71%.  The  percentage  of  accident  insurance  premiums  in  short-term  insurance 
premiums increased to 50.31% in 2009 from 47.19% in 2008. Renewal premiums became a stronger driver for growth, 
with  renewal  premiums  growing  by  21.3%  when  compared  to  2008,  and  the  proportion  of  renewal  premiums  in  gross 
written premiums increased to 38.20% in 2009 from 32.72% in 2008. The new business value increased significantly to 
RMB17,713 million, up 27.2% from 2008. Underwriting quality of the Company was further enhanced, with the Policy 
Persistency Rate (14 months and 26 months)4 reaching 93.66% and 87.44%, respectively.

In  order  to  effectively  respond  to  the  changes  in  the  capital  markets,  the  Company  adopted  a  proactive  and  prudent 
investment strategy with an optimized investment portfolio and a properly adjusted investment structure. The Company 
reduced its scale of investment in bonds and increased the proportion of equity investments, which helped the Company 
achieve satisfactory investment results. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company’s investment assets reached 
RMB1,172,145  million,  up  25.0%  from  2008.  The  proportion  of  debt  securities  decreased  from  61.43%  in  2008  to 
49.68% in 2009, while the proportion of equity securities increased from 8.01% to 15.31%. For the Reporting Period, 
the Company’s gross investment yield was 5.78%. Moreover, the Company seized strategic investment opportunities in 
the capital markets through its successful bid for the China Construction Bank’s H shares sold by Bank of America, and 
its investments in Sino-Ocean Land Holdings Limited and the Bank of Hangzhou.

The  Company  strengthened  the  centralized  management  at  a  provincial  level  of  its  exclusive  individual  agent  channel, 

which  effectively  enhanced  management  efficiency  and  resulted  in  significant  improvements  in  key  performance 

indicators  such  as  per  agent  productivity  for  first  year  regular  premiums  with  payment  duration  of  10  years  or 

longer.  The  group  insurance  channel  intensified  its  efforts  to  expand  the  business  from  large  accounts  and  large-scale 

projects  while  concentrating  on  underwriting  short-term  insurance  business,  resulting  in  further  strengthening  of  the 

Company’s  market  position.  The  Company  focused  on  improving  the  operating  capability  of  its  bancassurance  outlets 

by  changing  sales  practices  and  improving  sales  techniques,  and  has  accomplished  significant  progress  in  making 

structural adjustments and increasing regular premiums from this sales channel. As at the end of the Reporting Period, 

the  Company  had  approximately  777,000  exclusive  agents,  an  increase  of  61,000  from  2008,  and  12,700  direct  sales 

representatives. The number of intermediary bancassurance outlets reached 97,000, with 28,000 client service managers 

and 14,000 financial advisors.

4 

The  Persistency  Rate  for  long-term  individual  policy  is  an  important  operating  performance  indicator  for  life  insurance 

companies. It measures the ratio of in-force policies in a pool of policies after a certain period of time. It refers to the proportion 

of policies that are still effective during the designated month in the pool of policies whose issue date was 14 or 26 months ago.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Chairman’s Statement

9

The  Company  consolidated  its  insurance  application  forms  and  documents  to  further  streamline  the  application 

procedures.  It  also  standardised  customer  service  center  services  and  launched  self-service  systems.  These  measures 

substantially  enhanced  its  business  processing  efficiency.  The  Company  further  highlighted  the  value  of  its  ‘China  Life 

1+N’  service  by  leveraging  on  the  China  Life  Crane  Card  platform  and  a  series  of  ‘Joint  Hands’  activities,  achieving 

breakthroughs in customer service, sales promotion, and the Company’s overall operating capabilities. The Company has 

also made progress in the construction of its Beijing Research and Development Centre and its Shanghai Data Centre, 

optimizing  the  research  and  development  system  and  the  operation  supporting  system  and  strengthening  the  role  of 

information technology in business management.

In  order  to  further  enhance  its  risk  management  and  internal  control  procedures,  the  Company  has  established  and 

implemented  the  “Risk  Alert  System  and  Hierarchy  Management  Rules”,  enhancing  its  supervision,  evaluation  and 

management of major risks. These measures helped the Company to perfect its comprehensive risk management system. 

The Company has completed the strategic layout of six regional audit centers (including Beijing), to further implement 

off-site  auditing  and  special-purpose  auditing  on  the  Company’s  key  operation  and  management  issues  such  as  the 

execution  capabilities  and  internal  control  rectifications.  The  Company  continued  to  host  ‘Integrity  Comes  First’ 

activities, and named 16 September as its ‘9(cid:129)16 Integrity and Compliance Day’. It also launched credit assessments on 

its exclusive individual agents, innovated the method for monitoring sales risks, and established the sales risk monitoring 

system.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
In  2009,  the  Company  successfully  completed  the  election  of  a  new  session  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  the 

Supervisory Committee, and the third sessions of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee were formed. 

Mr.  Sun  Changji  and  Mr.  Bruce  Douglas  Moore  have  joined  the  new  session  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  Mr.  Shi 

Xiangming  and  Mr.  Wang  Xu  have  joined  the  new  session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee.  The  Company  believes 

that  the  new  session  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Supervisory  Committee  will  continue  to  play  a  role  in  making 

decisions  in  relation  to  and  the  supervision  of  the  Company’s  strategic  plans,  risk  management,  internal  control 

and  compliance  as  well  as  performance  appraisals.  Meanwhile,  the  Company  expresses  its  heartfelt  gratitude  for  the 

significant contribution to the Company’s development by its former Directors Mr. Long Yongtu, Mr. Chau Tak Hay, 

Mr. Cai Rang and Mr. Ngai Wai Fung, and the former Supervisors Mr. Wu Weimin and Mr. Qing Ge.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The  Company  expanded  the  geographical  coverage  of  its  micro-insurance  products  to  rural  areas  of  19  provinces  and 

municipalities, and the total number of people covered by these products have reached 8.5 million, creating the so-called 

‘Chinese  Model  of  Micro-insurance’  recognized  by  the  insurance  industry  worldwide.  The  New  Village  Cooperative 

Medical  Insurance  Scheme  has  been  expanded  to  17  provinces  and  municipalities,  and  the  Basic  Medical  Insurance 

Program for urban and township residents has been launched in 9 provinces and municipalities, covering altogether 29 

million residents. The Company has also proactively participated in the pilot project of the new rural pension insurance 

to improve the pension coverage for rural residents. The Company donated funds to construct 15 China Life Fraternity 

Schools in earthquake-stricken areas, including Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi and Chongqing. The Company has held a series 

of  activities  under  the  ‘China  Life  Earthquake-stricken  Orphan  Support  Plan’,  including  the  scheme  for  one-on-one 

assistance  of  orphans  by  China  Life  staff,  and  the  hosting  of  the  ‘China  Life  Summer  Camp’.  Through  the  China  Life 

Charity Foundation, the Company also donated RMB10 million to the Taiwan Region, which was seriously stricken by 

Typhoon Morakot.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

10

Chairman’s Statement

OUTLOOK
The  Company  will  be  confronted  with  a  complicated  business  environment  in  2010.  Although  the  macro  economic 

and  financial  environment  has  been  recovering,  economic  operations  have  not  improved  on  a  fundamental  level.  With 

the increased flexibility in the macro-economic control policies, the existence of inflation expectations and intensifying 

competition  in  the  market,  the  Company  will  continue  to  experience  pressure  in  terms  of  business  development  and 

asset  management.  The  implementation  of  new  Insurance  Law  and  related  regulations  will  further  regulate  market 

competition and result in healthy development of the insurance industry.

In  2010,  the  Company  will  continue  to  follow  the  development  strategy  of  the  ‘Four  Insistences’  to  enhance  its 

sustainable  development  capabilities  and  solidify  its  market  leading  position.  Furthermore,  the  Company  will  continue 

to implement its proactive competition strategy, and promote business infrastructural build-up as an important step to 

change  the  mode  of  and  strengthen  the  foundation  for  business  development.  The  Company  will  actively  seize  upon 

investment  opportunities  by  optimizing  asset  allocation  and  flexibly  adjusting  its  investment  strategies  to  enhance 

investment  return.  The  Company  will  also  strengthen  risk  control  and  internal  management,  and  effectively  control 

operating costs. By accelerating adjustments in business structure, strengthening business infrastructure, and continually 

transforming  its  mode  of  development,  the  Company  is  proactively  exploring  a  distinct  development  path  with  China 

Life  characteristics,  which  will  steadily  lead  the  Company  to  the  goal  of  being  a  first-class  international  life  insurance 

company.

By order of the Board
Yang Chao
Chairman

Beijing, China
7 April 2010

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Management Discussion and Analysis5

11

From left to right:
Mr. Miao Ping, Mr. Zhou Ying,
Ms. Liu Yingqi, Mr. Wan Feng, 
Mr. Lin Dairen, Mr. Liu Jiade, 
Mr. Su Hengxuan, Ms. Hwei-Chung Shao

I 

ANALYSIS OF MAJOR ITEMS OF CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

1.  Total Revenues

For the year ended 31 December  

Net premiums earned 

Individual life insurance business 

  Group life insurance business 
  Short-term insurance business 
Investment income 
Net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets 
  Debt securities 
  Equity securities 
Net fair value gains/(losses) on assets at fair value through income 
  Debt securities 
  Equity securities 
Other income 

2009 

275,077 
261,694 
189 
13,194 
38,890 
21,244 
3,346 
17,898 
1,449 
(277) 
1,726 
2,630 

RMB million
2008

265,177
252,113
339
12,725
44,946
(5,964)
2,445
(8,409)
(7,194)
300
(7,494)
3,420

Total 

339,290 

300,385

Net Premiums Earned
During the Reporting Period, net premiums earned were RMB275,077 million, a 3.7% increase from 2008. 
This was primarily due to an increase in insurance business volume.

(1)  

Individual Life Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  premiums  earned  from  individual  life  insurance  business  increased 
by 3.8% from 2008. This was primarily due to the adjustment of our insurance business structure.

5 

Unless otherwise specified, financial results of the year ended 31 December 2008 are adjusted for the first time adoption of IFRS.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

12

Management Discussion and Analysis

(2)  Group Life Insurance Business

During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  premiums  earned  from  group  life  insurance  business  decreased 
by  44.2%  from  2008.  This  was  primarily  due  to  the  adjustment  of  our  group  annuity  business 
development strategies.

(3)   Short-term Insurance Business

During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  premiums  earned  from  short-term  insurance  business  increased 
by  3.7%  from  2008.  This  was  primarily  due  to  our  increased  development  efforts  for  short-term 
insurance business.

Investment Income

For the year ended 31 December  

Investment income from securities at fair value through income 
Investment income from available-for-sale securities 
Investment income from held-to-maturity securities 
Investment income from term deposits 
Investment income from loans 
Other investment income 

2009 

335 
16,688 
9,882 
10,805 
1,172 
8 

RMB million
2008

902
22,636
9,245
11,378
696
89

38,890 

44,946

Total 

(1)  

Investment Income from Securities at Fair Value through Income
During  the  Reporting  Period,  investment  income  from  securities  at  fair  value  through  income 
decreased by 62.9% from 2008. This was primarily due to a decrease in the total volume of securities 
at fair value through income and a decrease of dividends from securities investment funds.

(2)  

Investment Income from Available-for-sale Securities
During the Reporting Period, investment income from available-for-sale securities decreased by 26.3% 
from 2008. This was primarily due to a decrease of dividends from securities investment funds.

(3)  

(4)  

Investment Income from Held-to-Maturity Securities
During the Reporting Period, investment income from held-to-maturity securities increased by 6.9% 
from 2008. This was primarily due to an increase in interest income resulting from favorable structural 
adjustment of our investment in debt securities.

Investment Income from Term Deposits
During  the  Reporting  Period,  investment  income  from  term  deposits  decreased  by  5.0%  from  2008. 
This  was  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  in  interest  income  from  deposits  resulting  from  a  decrease  of 
interest rate.

(5)  

Investment Income from Loans
During the Reporting Period, investment income from loans increased by 68.4% from 2008. This was 
primarily due to an increase in interest income from investment in the bonds investment plan.

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Management Discussion and Analysis

13

Net Realised Gains/(Losses) on Financial Assets

(1)   Debt Securities

During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  realised  gains/(losses)  on  financial  assets  from  debt  securities 
increased  by  36.9%  from  2008.  This  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  income  from  the  buy-sale 
price  differential  in  the  trading  of  debt  securities  resulting  from  our  adjustment  of  debt  investment 
strategies by taking advantage of market opportunities.

(2)  Equity Securities

During the Reporting Period, the change of net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets from equity 
securities was primarily due to an increase in income from the buy-sale price differential in the trading 
of stocks and fund interests by taking advantage of favorable stock market conditions and a decrease in 
assets impairment.

Net Fair Value Gains/(Losses) on Assets at Fair Value through Income

(1)   Debt Securities

During the Reporting Period, the change of net fair value gains/(losses) on assets at fair value through 
income  from  debt  securities  was  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  of  the  market  value  of  held-for-trading 
debt securities resulting from unfavorable market conditions in the debt market.

(2)   Equity Securities

During the Reporting Period, the change of net fair value gains/(losses) on assets at fair value through 
income  from  equity  securities  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  of  unrealised  profits  from  stocks  and 
fund interests resulting from favorable market conditions in the equity market.

Other Income
During  the  Reporting  Period,  other  income  decreased  by  23.1%  from  2008.  This  was  primarily  due  to  a 
decrease in income from investment contracts management fees.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

14

Management Discussion and Analysis

2.  Benefits, Claims and Expenses

For the year ended 31 December  

Insurance benefits and claims

Individual life insurance business 

  Group life insurance business 
  Short-term insurance business 
Investment contracts benefits 
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits 
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating expenses 
Statutory insurance fund 

2009 

RMB million
2008

228,968 
262 
7,808 
2,142 
14,487 
22,936 
18,719 
2,390 
537 

223,805
503
7,641
1,931
1,671
24,200
16,652
3,409
558

Total 

298,249 

280,370

Insurance Benefits and Claims

(1)  

Individual Life Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  insurance  benefits  and  claims  attributable  to  individual  life  insurance 
business increased by 2.3% from 2008. This was primarily due to an increase in business volume and 
the accumulation of liabilities.

(2)   Group Life Insurance Business

During  the  Reporting  Period,  insurance  benefits  and  claims  attributable  to  group  life  insurance 
business  decreased  by  47.9%  from  2008.  This  was  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  of  the  volume  of  the 
group business resulting from adjustment of the product structure.

(3)   Short-term Insurance Business

During  the  Reporting  Period,  insurance  benefits  and  claims  attributable  to  short-term  insurance 
business increased by 2.2% from 2008. This was primarily due to an increase in business volume.

Investment Contracts Benefits
During  the  Reporting  Period,  investment  contracts  benefits  increased  by  10.9%  from  2008.  This  was 
primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  average  account  balance  resulting  from  the  increased  volume  of  investment 
contracts business.

Policyholder Dividends Resulting from Participation in Profits
During  the  Reporting  Period,  policyholder  dividends  resulting  from  participation  in  profits  increased  by 
767.0% from 2008. This was primarily due to an increase in investment yield for participating products.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Management Discussion and Analysis

15

Underwriting and Policy Acquisition Costs
During the Reporting Period, underwriting and policy acquisition costs decreased by 5.2% from 2008. This 
was primarily due to the adjustment of our product structure and improvements in our sales approach.

Administrative Expenses
During  the  Reporting  Period,  administrative  expenses  increased  by  12.4%  from  2008.  This  was  primarily 
due to business development and increased market competition.

Other Operating Expenses
During the Reporting Period, other operating expenses decreased by 29.9% from 2008. This was primarily 
due to a decrease in foreign exchange losses resulting from a relatively stable interest rate.

3.   Profit before Income Tax

For the year ended 31 December  

Individual life insurance business 
Group life insurance business 
Short-term insurance business 
Other 

Total 

(1)  

2009 

39,769 
467 
420 
1,089 

RMB million
2008

19,075
81
596
207

41,745 

19,959

Individual Life Insurance Business
During the Reporting Period, profit before income tax of the Company in the individual life insurance 
business  increased  by  108.5%  from  2008.  This  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  investment  yield 
resulting from favorable capital market conditions.

(2)   Group Life Insurance Business

During  the  Reporting  Period,  profit  before  income  tax  of  the  Company  in  the  group  life  insurance 
business increased by 476.5% from 2008. This was primarily due to adjustments in the group business 
structure and an increase in investment yield resulting from favorable capital market conditions.

(3)   Short-term Insurance Business

During  the  Reporting  Period,  profit  before  income  tax  of  the  Company  in  the  short-term  insurance 
business decreased by 29.5% from 2008. This was primarily due to the heightened intensity of market 
competition.

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

16

Management Discussion and Analysis

4.  

Income Tax
During  the  Reporting  Period,  income  tax  of  the  Company  was  RMB8,709  million,  a  1,171.4%  increase 
from 2008. This was primarily due to an increase in profit before income tax and a decrease in non-taxable 
income. Our effective tax rate for 2009 was 20.86%.

5.   Net Profit

During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  profit  attributable  to  shareholders  of  the  Company  was  RMB32,881 
million,  a  71.8%  increase  from  2008.  This  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  investment  yield  resulting 
from favorable capital market conditions.

II.  ANALYSIS OF MAJOR BALANCE SHEET ITEMS

1.  Major Assets

Investment assets 
  Term deposits 
  Held-to-maturity securities 
  Available-for-sale securities 
  Securities at fair value through income 
  Cash and cash equivalents 
  Loans 
  Statutory deposits – restricted 
Other assets 

As at 31 
December 2009 

RMB million
As at 31
December 2008

1,172,145 
344,983 
235,099 
517,499 
9,133 
36,197 
23,081 
6,153 
54,112 

937,403
228,272
211,929
424,939
14,099
34,085
17,926
6,153
50,090

Total 

1,226,257 

987,493

Term Deposits
As at the end of the Reporting Period, term deposits increased by 51.1% from 2008. This was primarily due 
to our increased efforts for investment in negotiated deposits with floating interest rates.

Held-to-Maturity Securities
As at the end of the Reporting Period, held-to-maturity securities increased by 10.9% from 2008. This was 
primarily due to an increase in our total investment assets.

Available-for-Sale Securities
As at the end of the Reporting Period, available-for-sale securities increased by 21.8% from 2008. This was 
primarily due to an increase in our total investment assets.

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Management Discussion and Analysis

17

Securities at Fair Value Through Income
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  securities  at  fair  value  through  income  decreased  by  35.2%  from 
2008. This was primarily due to a decrease of the volume of held-for-trading fund interests.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  cash  and  cash  equivalents  increased  by  6.2%  from  2008.  This  was 
primarily due to an increase in the total investment assets and the asset allocation demand.

Loans
As at the end of the Reporting Period, loans increased by 28.8% from 2008. This was primarily due to an 
increase in the demand of policy loans.

As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  our  investment  assets  are  categorized  as  below  in  terms  of  asset 
classes:

Cash and cash equivalents 
Term deposits 
Bonds 
Funds 
Common stocks 
Other investment form 

As at 31 December 2009 

As at 31 December 2008

Amount 

Percentage 

Amount 

Percentage

RMB million

36,197 
344,983 
582,315 
76,367 
103,038 
29,245 

3.09% 
29.43% 
49.68% 
6.52% 
8.79% 
2.49% 

34,085 
228,272 
575,885 
33,953 
41,124 
24,084 

3.64%
24.35%
61.43%
3.62%
4.39%
2.57%

Total 

1,172,145 

100% 

937,403 

100%

2.  Major Liabilities

Insurance contracts 
Financial liabilities 

Investment contracts 

  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Policyholder dividends payable 
Annuity and other insurance balances payable 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Other liabilities 

As at 31 
December 2009 

RMB million
As at 31
December 2008

818,164 
100,879 
67,326 
33,553 
54,587 
5,721 
16,361 
17,769 

662,865
76,453
65,063
11,390
43,178
4,980
10,344
14,802

Total 

1,013,481 

812,622

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

18

Management Discussion and Analysis

Insurance Contracts
As at the end of the Reporting Period, liabilities of insurance contracts increased by 23.4% from 2008. This 
was primarily due to an increase in business volume and the accumulation of liabilities.

Financial Liabilities
As at the end of the Reporting Period, financial liabilities increased by 31.9% from 2008. This was primarily 
due to an increase of securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

Policyholder Dividends Payable
As at the end of the Reporting Period, policyholder dividends payable increased by 26.4% from 2008. This 
was primarily due to an increase in investment yield for participating products and an increase in unrealised 
profit of financial assets (available-for-sale securities).

Annuity and Other Insurance Balances Payable
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  annuity  and  other  insurance  balances  payable  increased  by  14.9% 
from 2008. This was primarily due to the accumulation of liabilities.

Deferred Tax Liabilities
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  deferred  tax  liabilities  increased  by  58.2%  from  2008.  This  was 
primarily due to an increase in unrealised profit of financial assets (available for sale).

3.   Shareholders’ Equity

As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  shareholders’  equity  was  RMB  211,072  million,  a  21.3%  increase 
from 2008. This increase was primarily due to an increase in business volume and investment yield.

III.  ANALYSIS OF CASH FLOW

1.  Liquidity Sources

Our  principal  cash  inflows  come  from  insurance  premiums,  deposits,  proceeds  from  sales  and  maturity 
of  financial  assets,  and  net  investment  income.  The  primary  liquidity  concerns  with  respect  to  these  cash 
inflows are the risk of early withdrawals by contract holders and policyholders, as well as the risks of default 
by debtors, interest rate changes and other market volatilities. We closely monitor and manage these risks.

Additional sources of liquidity to meet unexpected cash outflows are available from our investment portfolio. 
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  amount  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents  was  RMB36,197  million. 
In  addition,  substantially  all  of  our  term  deposits  with  banks  allow  us  to  withdraw  funds  on  deposit, 
subject to a penalty interest charge. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the amount of term deposits was 
RMB344,983 million.

Our  investment  portfolio  also  provides  us  with  a  source  of  liquidity  to  meet  unexpected  cash  outflows.  As 
at the end of the Reporting Period, investments in debt securities had a fair value of RMB582,885 million, 
while investments in equity securities had a fair value of RMB179,405 million. The Company is also subject 
to market liquidity risk due to the large size of our investments in some of the markets in which we invest. 
From  time  to  time  some  of  our  positions  in  our  investment  securities  may  be  large  enough  to  have  an 
influence  on  the  market  value.  These  factors  may  limit  our  ability  to  sell  these  investments  at  an  adequate 
price, or at all.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Management Discussion and Analysis

19

2.  Liquidity Uses

Our  principal  cash  outflows  primarily  relate  to  the  liabilities  associated  with  our  various  life  insurance, 
annuity  and  accident  and  health  insurance  products,  dividend  and  interest  payments  on  our  insurance 
policies  and  annuity  contracts,  operating  expenses,  income  taxes  and  dividends  that  may  be  declared  and 
payable  to  our  shareholders.  Liabilities  arising  from  our  insurance  activities  primarily  relate  to  benefit 
payments under these insurance products, as well as payments for policy surrenders, withdrawals and loans.

We believe that our sources of liquidity are sufficient to meet our current cash requirements.

3.  Consolidated Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 December  

Net cash provided by operating activities 
Net cash used in investment activities 
Net cash provided/used by financing activities 
Foreign currency losses on cash and cash equivalents 

2009 

149,700 
(163,751) 
16,167 
(4) 

RMB million
2008

126,077
(115,910)
(1,111)
(288)

Net increase of cash and cash equivalents 

2,112 

8,768

During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  increased  by  18.7%  from  2008. 
This  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  of  written  premiums  and  a  decrease  of  claims  payments.  Net  cash 
used in investment activities increased by 41.3% from 2008. This was primarily due to an increase in total 
investment assets and investment arrangements. The change of net cash provided by financing activities was 
primarily due to the Company’s demand of assets allocation and cash assets management.

IV.  SOLVENCY RATIO

The solvency ratio of an insurance company is a measure of capital adequacy, which is calculated by dividing the 
actual  capital  of  the  company  (which  is  its  admissible  assets  less  admissible  liabilities,  determined  in  accordance 
with relevant rules) by the minimum capital it is required to meet. The following table shows our solvency ratio as 
of 31 December 2009:

Actual capital 
Minimum capital 

Solvency ratio 

As at 31 
December 2009 

RMB million
As at 31
December 2008

147,119 
48,459 

124,561
40,154

303.59% 

310.21%

The decrease of our solvency ratio was primarily due to an increase in the minimum capital requirement resulting 
from our business development.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

20

Management Discussion and Analysis

V  BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF OUR SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES DURING THE 

REPORTING PERIOD

Name

Business Scope

China Life Asset 
Management Company 
Limited

China Life Pension Company 
Limited

China Life Property and 
Casualty Insurance Company 
Limited

Management and utilization of owned capital; 
entrusted  capital  management;  consulting 
business  relevant  to  the  assets  management 
business;  other  assets  management  business 
permitted  by  applicable  PRC  laws  and 
regulations

Group  and  individual  pension  insurance 
and  annuity;  short-term  health  insurance; 
accident  insurance;  reinsurance  of  the  above; 
business  for  the  use  of  insurance  funds  that 
are  permitted  by  applicable  PRC  laws  and 
regulations; other business permitted by CIRC

Property  loss  insurance;  liability  insurance; 
credit  insurance  and  bond  insurance; 
short-term  health  and  accident  insurance; 
reinsurance of the above

RMB million

Registered
Capital

Shareholding

3,000

60%

Total
Assets

4,679

Net
Assets

3,753

Net
Profit

410

2,441

2,321

(116)

2,500

87.4% is held
by the Company, 
and 4.8%
is held by AMC

4,000

40%

12,138

2,448

80

VI  FUTURE PROSPECT AND RISK ANALYSIS

The  Company’s  general  considerations  regarding  development  for  the  year  of  2010  are  to  follow  the  Scientific 
Outlook  on  Development,  expedite  structural  adjustments,  strengthen  fundamental  infrastructure,  continue  to 
promote  the  transformation  of  the  Company’s  mode  of  development,  ensure  a  sustainable  and  stable  growth  in 
business, persist in structure optimization, intensify management control, increase profits steadily, and explore the 
distinct development path with China Life characteristics.

The  major  risk  factors  which  may  impact  on  the  Company’s  future  development  strategy  and  business  objectives 
include:

1.  Macro economic policy risks

In  2010,  macro  economic  policy  will  in  general  continue  to  be  consistent  and  stable,  and  will  be  more 
flexible  and  pertinent  when  applied  in  practice.  As  inflation  worldwide  is  expected  to  intensify  and  the 
pressure  to  suppress  inflation  increases,  the  flexibility  of  macro  economic  policy  and  its  potential  partial 
adjustments, as well as adjustments in the economic stimulation policies, will bring considerable impact on 
the financial market. As such, the Company’s business development and assets management will be affected 
to a certain extent.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Management Discussion and Analysis

21

2.  Business development risks

The  basis  of  the  rebound  in  macro  economy  is  neither  stable,  solid  nor  balanced,  which  makes  it  more 
difficult  for  the  Company  to  further  adjust  and  optimize  its  business  structure  while  preserving  business 
growth at a steady rate. If the economy recovers relatively slowly, some enterprises’ and citizens’ ability and 
willingness  to  purchase  insurance  products  may  become  directly  or  indirectly  affected.  This  in  turn  may 
affect  the  rate  of  increase  of  premiums  of  the  Company.  If  the  industry  moves  along  at  a  relatively  quick 
pace,  the  Company  may  have  to  appropriately  increase  its  rate  of  business  growth  in  order  to  maintain 
its  advantageous  market  position.  This  may  affect  certain  business  structure  optimization  goals  and  the 
improvement of profit levels.

3. 

Investment risks
Because  of  the  uncertainty  and  complexity  of  economic  trends  both  at  home  and  abroad,  capital  markets 
and  currency  markets  may  experience  fluctuations  and  volatility.  As  such,  the  investment  proceeds  of  the 
Company  may  be  affected,  which  will  make  the  allocation  of  assets  more  difficult.  As  China  expands  the 
scale of equity and debt financing and promotes the expedition of the establishment of a multi-level capital 
market system, the Company may invest some of its insurance funds through these new investment channels 
or  utilize  new  investment  vehicles.  There  may  be  uncertainties  associated  with  these  new  investment 
channels  and  new  investment  vehicles,  which  may  have  a  negative  impact  on  the  Company’s  investment 
income. Moreover, some of the Company’s assets are held in foreign currencies. The value of the Company’s 
foreign currency denominated assets may be adversely affected by exchange rate movements.

In  2010,  the  Company  will  further  transform  its  mode  of  development,  continue  to  increase  the  level  of  its 
structural  adjustment  and  focus  on  the  improvement  of  market  competitiveness  in  urban  areas.  The  Company 
plans  to  increase  its  premium  income  in  2010  by  more  than  5%.  However,  given  the  above-mentioned  risk 
factors,  the  Company’s  business  development  faces  a  complex  external  operating  environment.  In  addition,  since 
competition  in  the  insurance  industry  has  intensified,  the  Company  will  need  to  properly  adjust  its  business 
development objectives in accordance with market trends in a timely manner, such that it can efficiently respond 
to  challenges  from  market  competitors  and  maintain  its  leading  market  position.  Meanwhile,  the  Company 
will  control  its  costs  at  a  reasonable  level,  optimize  resource  allocation,  and  devote  more  effort  into  business 
development  and  team  building,  and  thereby  improving  the  Company’s  profitability.  The  Company  expects  that 
it  will  have  sufficient  capital  for  2010  to  meet  its  insurance  business  expenditures  and  general  new  investment 
needs. The Company will make corresponding arrangements in accordance with market conditions to facilitate the 
implementation of its future development strategy.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

22

Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings of Substantial Shareholders

(1)  CHANGES IN SHARE CAPITAL

During  the  Reporting  Period,  there  was  no  change  in  the  total  number  of  shares  and  the  share  capital  of  the 
Company. The changes in shares with selling restrictions are set out below:

Number of shares
subject to selling
restrictions at the
beginning of the
Reporting Period

19,323,530,000

Name of shareholder

China Life
Insurance (Group)
Company (CLIC)

Total

19,323,530,000

Number of shares
released from
selling restrictions
in the Reporting
Period

–

–

Number of
additional shares
subject to
selling restrictions
in the Reporting
Period

–

Number of
shares subject
to selling
restrictions
at the end of the
Reporting Period

Reason for
selling restrictions

Date of release of 
selling restrictions

19,323,530,000 The  controlling  shareholder  had  agreed 
to  a  lock-up  period  of  36  months  starting 
from  9  January  2007,  the  date  of  listing 
of  the  Company’s  A  shares  on  the  SSE

11 January 2010

–

19,323,530,000

/

/

The  lock-up  of  the  19,323,530,000  shares  held  by  CLIC  has  expired  on  11  January  2010.  Of  these  shares, 
19,173,530,000  shares  are  now  tradable  in  the  market,  and  the  remaining  150,000,000  shares  are  frozen  in 
accordance with laws. For further information, please refer to the section headed “Undertakings of the Company 
or Shareholders holding more than 5% of the Share Capital of the Company which are either Given or Effective 
during the Reporting Period” of this annual report.

(2)  ISSUE AND LISTING OF SECURITIES

As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company had not issued any securities in the last three years. During 
the Reporting Period, there was no change in the total number of shares and the share structure of the Company 
due to bonus issues or placings, nor were there any internal employees’ shares.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings of Substantial Shareholders

23

(3)  INFORMATION ON SHAREHOLDERS AND EFFECTIVE CONTROLLERS

1.  Number of shareholders and their shareholding

Total number of shareholders at the end of the Reporting Period

Particulars of top ten shareholders of the Company

Name of shareholder

China Life Insurance (Group)
Company (CLIC)

Nature of
shareholder

State-owned
corporate 
shareholder

Unit: Shares

No. of A shareholders: 223,840
No. of H shareholders: 36,612

Percentage of
shareholding (%)

Total number
of shares held

Increase/decrease
during the
Reporting Period

Number of
shares subject
to selling
restrictions

Number of
pledged or
lock-up shares

68.37

19,323,530,000

–

19,323,530,000

150,000,000 Note 1

HKSCC Nominees Limited Note 2

Foreign shareholder

25.73

7,272,462,240

–9,047,865

State Development &
Investment Corporation Note 3

China National Investment &
Guaranty Co., Ltd Note 3

ICBC-Bosera Third Industry
Growth Stock Securities
Investment Fund Note 4

China Pacific Life Insurance
Co., Ltd.-Tradition-Ordinary
Insurance Products

IFC-Standard Chartered-CITIGROUP
GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED

ICBC-Lion Stock Securities
Investment Fund Note 4

China National Nuclear
Corporation Note 3

DEUTSCHE BANK
AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Other

Other

Other

Other

Other

Other

Other

0.18

49,800,000

–

0.10

29,450,014

–9,749,986

0.10

27,000,000

1,887,802

0.09

24,532,882

24,532,882

0.09

24,049,318

9,813,068

0.07

20,475,516

–10,024,484

0.07

20,000,000

–

Foreign corporation

0.07

19,594,594

15,845,140

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

24

Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings of Substantial Shareholders

Details of shareholders  Note 1:  On  19  June  2009,  the  Ministry  of  Finance,  the  State-owned  Assets  Supervision  and 

Administration Commission of the State Council, the CSRC and the National Council 

for  Social  Security  Fund  jointly  issued  the  “Measures  for  the  Implementation  of 

Transferring  Part  of  the  State-owned  Shares  to  Enrich  the  Social  Security  Fund  in  the 

Domestic  Securities  Market”  and  Circular  No.  63.  The  promulgations  stipulated  that 

shares that have to be transferred by obligated state-owned shareholders are frozen as of 

the issuing date of the notification. As at the end of the Reporting Period, 150 million 

shares held by CLIC had been frozen legally.

Note 2:  HKSCC  Nominees  Limited  is  a  company  that  holds  shares  on  behalf  of  the  clients 

of  the  Hong  Kong  stock  brokers  and  other  participants  of  the  CCASS  system.  The 

relevant regulations of the HKSE do not require such persons to declare whether their 

shareholdings are collateralized or frozen. Hence, HKSCC Nominees Limited is unable 

to calculate or provide the number of shares that are collateralized or frozen.

Note 3:  The  State  Development  &  Investment  Corporation,  China  National  Investment  & 

Guaranty Co., Ltd. and China National Nuclear Corporation have become the top 10 

shareholders of the Company through the strategic placement during the initial public 

offering  of  A  shares  in  December  2006.  The  trading  restriction  period  of  the  shares 

from the strategic placement was from 9 January 2007 to 9 January 2008.

Note 4:  Industrial  and  Commercial  Bank  of  China  Limited  is  the  custodian  of  ICBC-Bosera 

Third  Industry  Growth  Stock  Securities  Fund  and  ICBC-Lion  Stock  Securities 

Investment  Fund.  Save  as  disclosed  above,  the  Company  was  not  aware  of  any 

connected  relationship  and  concerted  parties  as  defined  by  the  “Measures  for  the 

Administration of the Takeover of Listed Companies” among the top ten shareholders 

of the Company.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings of Substantial Shareholders

25

Particulars of the top ten shareholders not subject to selling restrictions

Name of shareholder 

Number of shares not subject
to selling restrictions 

Unit: shares

Type of shares

HKSCC Nominees Limited 
State Development & Investment Corporation 
China National Investment & Guaranty Co., Ltd 
ICBC-Bosera Third Industry Growth Stock Securities Investment Fund 
China Pacific Life Insurance Co., Ltd.-Tradition-Ordinary Insurance Products 
IFC-Standard Chartered-CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED 
ICBC-Lion Stock Securities Investment Fund 
China National Nuclear Corporation 
DEUTSCHE BANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT 
China International Television Corporation 

7,272,462,240 
49,800,000 
29,450,014 
27,000,000 
24,532,882 
24,049,318 
20,475,516 
20,000,000 
19,594,594 
18,452,300 

H shares
A shares
A shares
A shares
A shares
A shares
A shares
A shares
A shares
A shares

Description of any connected
relationships or concerted actions
among the above-mentioned
shareholders

Industrial  and  Commercial  Bank  of  China  Limited  is  the 
custodian  of  ICBC-Bosera  Third  Industry  Growth  Stock 
Securities  Investment  Fund  and  ICBC-Lion  Stock  Securities 
Investment  Fund.  Save  as  disclosed  above,  the  Company 
is  not  aware  of  any  connected  relationship  and  concerted 
parties  as  defined  by  the  “Measures  for  the  Administration 
of  the  Takeover  of  Listed  Companies”  among  the  top  ten 
shareholders of the Company.

2. 

Information relating to the Controlling Shareholder and Effective Controller
The controlling shareholder of the Company is CLIC, and its relevant information is set out below:

Name of company

Legal
representative

Registered
capital

Date of
incorporation Main business

CLICNote

Yang Chao

 4.6 billion

21 July 2003 The Company is engaged in life insurance, 
health  insurance,  accident  and  other 
types  of  personal  insurance;  re-insurance 
of  life  insurance  business;  businesses  for 
use  of  funds  that  are  permitted  under  the 
national laws and regulations or approved 
by the State Council; all kinds of personal 
insurance  services,  consulting  and  agency 
services;  other  businesses  approved  by  the 
CIRC.

Note:  CLIC  was  formerly  known  as  China  Life  Insurance  Company,  a  company  approved  and  formed  by  the  State 

Council  in  January  1999.  With  the  approval  of  the  CIRC  in  2003,  China  Life  Insurance  Company  was 

restructured as CLIC.

 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

26

Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings of Substantial Shareholders

The effective controller of the Company is the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China. The 
equity and controlling relationship between the Company and its effective controller is set out below:

Ministry of Finance

100%

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

68.37%

China Life Insurance Company Limited

During the Reporting Period, there was no change to the controlling shareholder and the effective controller 
of  the  Company.  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  there  was  no  other  corporate  shareholder  holding 
more than 10% of the shares in the Company.

(4)  INTERESTS AND SHORT POSITIONS IN THE SHARES AND UNDERLYING SHARES 

OF THE COMPANY HELD BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHER 
PERSONS UNDER HONG KONG LAWS AND REGULATIONS
So far as is known to any Directors, Supervisors and the chief executive of the Company, as at 31 December 2009, 
the following persons (other than the Directors, Supervisors, and the chief executive of the Company) had interests 
or  short  positions  in  the  shares  or  underlying  shares  of  the  Company  which  would  fall  to  be  disclosed  to  the 
Company under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO, or which were recorded in the register 
required to be kept by the Company pursuant to Section 336 of the SFO, or as otherwise notified to the Company 
and HKSE:

Name of substantial shareholder

Capacity

Type of shares

CLIC

Beneficial owner

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Note 1)

Blackrock, Inc. (Note 2)

Beneficial owner, investment
manager and custodian
corporation/approved
lending agent

Interest of corporation
controlled by
Blackrock, Inc.

A Shares

H Shares

H Shares

Number of
shares held

Percentage of the
respective type
of shares (%)

Percentage of
the total
number of shares
in issue (%)

19,323,530,000(L)

92.80

68.37

594,772,730(L)
48,351,405(S)
292,164,343(P)

449,440,640(L)
180,000(S)

7.99
0.65
3.93

6.04
0.00

2.10
0.17
1.03

1.59
0.00

The  letter  L  denotes  a  long  position.  The  letter  S  denotes  a  short  position.  The  letter  P  denotes  interest  in  a 
lending pool.

 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings of Substantial Shareholders

27

Note (1): 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. was interested in a total of 594,772,730 H shares in accordance with the provisions of Part 

XV,  SFO.  Of  these  shares,  JPMorgan  Chase  Bank,  N.A.,  J.P.  Morgan  Investment  Management  Inc.,  JPMorgan 

Asset  Management  (UK)  Limited,  JPMorgan  Asset  Management  (Japan)  Limited,  JF  Asset  Management  Limited, 

J.P.  Morgan  Securities  Ltd.,  J.P.  Morgan  Whitefriars  Inc.,  JPMorgan  Asset  Management  (Taiwan)  Limited, 

JF  International  Management  Inc.,  China  International  Fund  Management  Co  Ltd  and  J.P.  Morgan  Markets 

Limited  were  interested  in  292,164,343  H  shares,  2,411,912  H  shares,  31,485,909  H  shares,  641,000  H  shares, 

184,118,750  H  shares,  31,849,962  H  shares,  25,632,854  H  shares,  10,394,000  H  shares,  1,584,000  H  shares, 

8,309,000  H  shares  and  6,181,000  H  shares  respectively.  All  of  these  entities  are  either  controlled  or  indirectly 

controlled subsidiaries of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Included in the 594,772,730 H shares are 292,164,343 H shares (3.93%) which are held in the “lending pool”, as 

defined under Section 5(4) of the Securities and Futures (Disclosure of Interests Securities Borrowing and Lending) 

Rules.

In addition, JPMorgan Chase & Co. held by way of attribution a short position as defined under Part XV, SFO in 

48,351,405 H shares (0.65%).

Note (2): 

Blackrock,  Inc.  was  interested  in  a  total  of  449,440,640  H  shares  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Part 

XV,  SFO.  Of  these  shares,  BlackRock  Advisors,  LLC,  BlackRock  Investment  Management  (UK)  Limited, 

BlackRock  Fund  Managers  Limited,  BlackRock  International  Limited,  BlackRock  Advisors  (UK)  Limited, 

BlackRock  Luxembourg  S.A.,  BlackRock  Investment  Management  (Australia)  Limited,  BlackRock  Institutional 

Trust  Company  N.A.,  BlackRock  Fund  Advisors  and  BlackRock  Investment  Management,  LLC  were  interested 

in  14,663,265  H  shares,  7,515,995  H  shares,  2,539,000  H  shares,  4,728,980  H  shares,  49,647,307  H  shares, 

6,141,985  H  shares,  190,995  H  shares,  361,311,140  H  shares,  288,029,665  H  shares  and  4,450,973  H  shares 

respectively. All of these entities are either controlled or indirectly controlled subsidiaries of Blackrock, Inc.

Blackrock, Inc. held by way of attribution a short position as defined under Part XV, SFO in 180,000 H shares.

Save as disclosed above, the Directors, Supervisors and the chief executive of the Company are not aware that there 
is any party who, as at 31 December 2009, had an interest or short position in the shares and underlying shares of 
the Company which were recorded in the register required to be kept by the Company pursuant to Section 336 of 
the SFO.

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

28

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

I  DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

1.  Current Directors

Number
of shares
held at the
beginning
of the year

Number of
shares held
at the end
of the year

Reason
for changes

Total emolument
received from the 
Company in the 
Reporting Period 
in RMB
ten thousands 
(Before tax)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

86

93

85

85

0

0

0

0 

0 

0 

16

365

Whether receiving 
remuneration and 
allowance from
shareholders or other
associates

No

Yes 
(Paid to the Company)

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

/

Name

Position

Gender Age

Term

Yang Chao

Chairman, 
Executive Director

Male

60

Since 16 June 2006

Wan Feng

Executive Director Male

52

52

52

45

58

Since 16 June 2006

Since 27 October 2008

Since 27 October 2008

Since 27 October 2008

Since 16 June 2006

Male

Male

Female

58

Since 16 June 2006

69

68

68

61

/

Since 16 June 2006

Since 16 June 2006

Since 25 May 2009

Since 25 May 2009

/

Lin Dairen

Liu Yingqi

Miao Jianmin

Shi Guoqing

Zhuang Zuojin

Sun Shuyi

Ma Yongwei

Sun Changji

Bruce Douglas 
  Moore

Executive Director Male

Executive Director

Female

Non-executive 
Director

Non-executive 
Director

Non-executive 
Director

Independent Director Male

Independent Director Male

Independent Director Male

Independent Director Male

Total

/

/

Note:

1. 

According to the “Procedural Rules for Board of Directors Meetings of China Life Insurance Company Limited”, 

Directors  serve  for  a  term  of  three  years  and  may  be  re-elected.  However,  Independent  Directors  may  not  be  re-

elected for more than six years.

2. 

The  positions  of  the  Directors  in  this  annual  report  reflect  their  positions  as  at  the  submission  date  of  the 

Company’s  annual  report.  The  emoluments  are  calculated  based  on  the  terms  of  office  during  the  Reporting 

Period.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

29

3. 

On 25 May 2009, Mr. Sun Changji and Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore are appointed as Independent Directors of the 

Company  in  the  2009  Annual  General  Meeting  (Annual  General  Meeting  for  the  year  2008).  On  4  June  2009, 

CIRC approved the appointment of Mr. Sun Changji and Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore as Independent Directors of 

the Company.

4. 

According to the relevant rules and regulations of China, Mr. Sun Shuyi, Mr. Ma Yongwei and Mr. Sun Changji, 

Independent  Directors,  have  not  received  any  emoluments  from  the  Company  during  the  Reporting  Period. 

The  emolument  received  by  Mr.  Bruce  Douglas  Moore,  Independent  Director,  does  not  include  the  part  that  is 

subject to the performance appraisal result of 2009. That part of emolument will be released after the appraisal is 

completed.

5. 

According  to  the  new  regulations  of  the  relevant  authorities  of  China,  the  final  amount  of  emoluments  of  the 

Chairman  and  Executive  Directors  is  currently  subject  to  review  and  approval.  The  result  of  the  review  will  be 

revealed when the final amount is confirmed.

2.  Current Supervisors

No. of 
shares 
held at the 
beginning 
of the year

No. of shares 
held at the end 
of the year

Reason for 
changes

Total emolument 
received from the 
Company in the 
Reporting Period 
in RMB
ten thousands 
(Before tax)

Whether receiving 
remuneration and 
allowance from 
shareholders or other 
associates

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

/

/

/

/

/

/

85

34

55

32

12

218

No

No

No

No

No

/

Name

Position

Gender Age

Term

Xia Zhihua

Chairperson of the Supervisory 
Committee

Female

54

Since 16 June 2006

Shi Xiangming Supervisor

Yang Hong

Wang Xu

Employee Representative 
Supervisor

Employee Representative 
Supervisor

Tian Hui

Supervisor

Total

/

Male

Female

Male

Male

/

51

43

43

58

/

Since 25 May 2009

Since 16 October 2006

Since 25 May 2009

Since 16 June 2006

/

Note:

1. 

Pursuant to the Articles of Association, Supervisors serve for a term of three years and may be re-elected.

2. 

The  positions  of  the  Supervisors  in  this  annual  report  reflect  their  positions  as  at  the  submission  date  of  the 

Company’s  annual  report.  The  emoluments  are  calculated  based  on  the  terms  of  office  during  the  Reporting 

Period.

3. 

The emolument received by Mr. Tian Hui, Supervisor, does not include the part that is subject to the performance 

appraisal result of 2009. That part of emolument will be released after the appraisal is completed.

4. 

According  to  the  new  regulations  of  the  relevant  authorities  of  China,  the  final  amount  of  emoluments  of  the 

Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee and Supervisors is currently subject to review and approval. The result 

of the review will be revealed when the final amount is confirmed.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

30

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

3.  Current Senior Management

Number 
of shares 
held at the 
beginning 
of the year

Number of 
shares held at 
the end of the 
year

Reason for 
changes

Total emolument 
received from the 
Company in the 
Reporting Period 
in RMB
ten thousands 
(Before tax)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

93

85

85

85

85

85

6

293

817

Whether receiving 
remuneration and 
allowance from 
shareholders or other 
associates

Yes (Paid to the 
Company)

No

No

Yes (Paid to the 
Company)

No

No

No

No

/

Name

Capacity

Gender Age

Term

Wan Feng

President

Male

Lin Dairen

Liu Yingqi

Vice President

Vice President, 
Board Secretary

Male

Female

Liu Jiade

Vice President

Male

Zhou Ying

Vice President

Su Hengxuan

Vice President

Miao Ping

Vice President

Male

Male

Male

Hwei-Chung Shao Chief Actuary

Female

Total

/

/

Note:

52

52

52

47

56

47

52

56

/

Since September 2007

Since August 2003

Served as Vice President since 
January 2006, acted as Board 
Secretary since 
30 May 2008

Since August 2003

Since August 2008

Since August 2008

Since December 2009

Since March 2007

/

1. 

The  positions  of  the  members  of  the  Senior  Management  in  this  annual  report  reflect  their  positions  as  at  the 

submission  date  of  the  Company’s  annual  report.  The  emoluments  are  calculated  based  on  the  terms  of  office 

during the Reporting Period.

2. 

At  the  fourth  meeting  of  the  third  session  of  the  Board  of  Directors  convened  on  21  December  2009,  the  Board 

has  passed  the  “Resolution  in  relation  to  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Miao  Ping  as  the  Vice  President  of  China  Life 

Insurance Company Limited”. On 6 January 2010, CIRC approved the appointment of Mr. Miao Ping as one of 

the Senior Management of the Company.

3. 

According  to  the  new  regulations  of  the  relevant  authorities  of  China,  the  final  amount  of  emoluments  of  the 

Senior Management is currently subject to review and approval. The result of the review will be revealed when the 

final amount is confirmed.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

31

4.  Re-Designation and Retirement of Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management during 

the Reporting Period

Name

Previous position

Gender

Long Yongtu

Chau Tak Hay

Cai Rang

Ngai Wai Fung

Independent 
Director

Independent 
Director

Independent 
Director

Independent 
Director

Male

Male

Male

Male

Wu Weimin

Supervisor

Male

Qing Ge

Liu Lefei

Employees’ 
Representative 
Supervisor
Chief Investment 
Officer

Male

Male

Age

67

67

53

48

58

59

37

Term

16/06/2006 – 
  25/05/2009

16/06/2006 – 
  25/05/2009

16/06/2006 – 
  25/05/2009

29/12/2006 – 
  25/05/2009

16/06/2006 – 
  25/05/2009

15/06/2006 – 
  25/05/2009

07/2006 – 
  19/01/2009

Liu Anlin

Chief Information 
Technology Officer

Male

47

07/2006 – 
  21/12/2009

Total emolument 
received from the 
Company in the 
Reporting Period
in RMB
ten thousands 
(Before tax)

Whether receiving 
remuneration and 
allowance from 
shareholders or 
other associates

0

11

11

11

25

25

17

70

Reason for changes 

Retired from session of the Board of Directors 
(approved in the Annual General Meeting 
convened on 25 May 2009)
Retired from session of the Board of Directors 
(approved in the Annual General Meeting 
convened on 25 May 2009)
Retired from session of the Board of Directors 
(approved in the Annual General Meeting 
convened on 25 May 2009)
Retired from session of the Board of Directors 
(approved in the Annual General Meeting 
convened on 25 May 2009)
Retired from session of the Supervisory 
Committee (approved in the Annual General 
Meeting convened on 25 May 2009)
Retired from session of the Supervisory 
Committee (approved in the Annual General 
Meeting convened on 25 May 2009)
Assigned to work at CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. 
(approved in the fourteenth meeting 
of the second session of the Board of Directors 
convened on 19 January 2009)
Assigned to another position 
(approved in the fourth meeting of 
the third session of the Board of Directors 
convened on 21 December 2009)

/

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

/

Total

/

/

/

/

170

Note:

1. 

According  to  the  relevant  rules  and  regulations  of  China,  Mr.  Long  Yongtu,  Independent  Director,  has  not 

received any emoluments from the Company during the Reporting Period. The emoluments received by Mr. Chau 

Tak Hay, Mr. Cai Rang and Mr. Ngai Wai Fung, Independent Directors, do not include the part that is subject to 

the performance appraisal of 2009. That part of emoluments will be released after the appraisal is completed.

2. 

According  to  the  new  regulations  of  the  relevant  authorities  of  China,  the  final  amount  of  emoluments  of  the 

Supervisors and Senior Management who have left their positions is currently subject to review and approval. The 

result of the review will be revealed when the final amount is confirmed.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

32

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

DIRECTORS

Mr. Yang Chao, born in 1950, Chinese
Mr.  Yang  became  the  Chairman  of  the  Company  in  July  2005,  the  President  of  China  Life 
Insurance  (Group)  Company  in  May  2005  and  the  Chairman  of  China  Life  Property  and 
Casualty  Insurance  Company  Limited  in  December  2006.  Between  May  2005  and  January 
2006,  he  was  the  General  Manager  of  the  Company.  Between  2000  and  2005,  Mr.  Yang  was 
the  Chairman  and  General  Manager  of  both  China  Insurance  (Holdings)  Company  Limited 
and  China  Insurance  H.K.  (Holding)  Company  Limited.  Mr.  Yang  graduated  from  Shanghai 
International  Studies  University  and  Middlesex  University  in  the  United  Kingdom,  majoring 
in  English  and  Business  Administration,  and  had  obtained  a  Master’s  degree  in  Business 
Administration.  Mr.  Yang,  a  Senior  Economist,  has  more  than  30  years  of  experience  in  the 
insurance and banking industries, and was awarded special allowance by the State Council. He is 
currently  the  Vice  President  of  National  Association  of  Financial  Market  Institutional  Investors, 
the  Chairman  of  the  Chairmanship  of  China  Federation  of  Industrial  Economics,  a  member  of 
Shanghai  International  Financial  Center  Construction  Advisory  Committee  and  a  member  of 
Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.

Mr. Wan Feng, born in 1958, Chinese
Mr. Wan became the President of the Company in September 2007, and at the same time became 
Vice President of China Life Insurance (Group) Company and a Director of China Life Pension 
Company Limited. He became an Executive Director of the Company from June 2006 and served 
as  a  Vice  President  of  the  Company  from  2003.  On  31  January  2007,  it  was  resolved  by  the 
Board  of  Directors  to  authorize  Mr.  Wan  Feng  to  be  responsible  for  the  day-to-day  operations 
and  management  of  the  Company.  He  became  a  Director  of  China  Life  Property  and  Casualty 
Insurance  Company  Limited  from  November  2006,  and  became  a  Director  of  China  Life  Asset 
Management Company Limited from January 2006. Mr. Wan received a BA degree in Economics 
from  Jilin  College  of  Finance  and  Trade,  a  MBA  from  Open  University  of  Hong  Kong,  and  a 
Doctorate in Finance from Nankai University in Tianjin. Mr. Wang, a Senior Economist, has 28 
years of experience in the life insurance industry, and was awarded special allowance by the State 
Council. He is currently the Director of the China Life Charity Foundation, the Deputy Director 
of the China Association of Actuaries, a Deputy Director of the Insurance Association of China, 
an  Executive  Director  of  the  Insurance  Institute  of  China,  a  Director  of  the  China  Insurance 
Guarantee Fund Committee and a Director of Guangdong Development Bank.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

33

Mr. Lin Dairen, born in 1958, Chinese
Mr.  Lin  became  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Company  on  27  October  2008.  Mr.  Lin  served  as 
the Vice President of the Company since 2003 and served as the Executive Director and President 
of China Life Pension Company Limited from November 2006. Mr. Lin graduated in 1982 with 
a  Bachelor’s  degree  in  Medicine  from  Shandong  Province  Changwei  Medical  Institute.  Mr.  Lin, 
a  Senior  Economist,  has  worked  in  the  life  insurance  industry  for  28  years  and  has  accumulated 
extensive  experience  in  operation  and  management.  He  is  currently  the  Executive  Director  of 
the Insurance Institute of China, the Executive Director of the Labor Institute of China, and the 
Executive Director of Peking University China Center for Insurance and Social Security Research.

Ms. Liu Yingqi, born in 1958, Chinese
Ms.  Liu  became  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Company  on  27  October  2008.  Ms.  Liu  served  as 
the Vice President of the Company since January 2006 and acted as Board Secretary from 30 May 
2008.  Ms.  Liu  became  a  Director  of  China  Life  Pension  Company  Limited  in  November  2006. 
Ms.  Liu  was  the  Chairperson  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company  between  August 
2003  and  January  2006.  Ms.  Liu  graduated  with  a  BA  in  Economics  from  Anhui  University  in 
1982. Ms. Liu has over 23 years of experience in operation and management of the life insurance 
business and in insurance administration. Ms. Liu, a Senior Economist, has extensive experience 
in operation and management. She is currently a Director of the Insurance Institute of China.

Mr. Miao Jianmin, born in 1965, Chinese
Mr.  Miao  Jianmin  became  a  Non-executive  Director  of  the  Company  on  27  October  2008. 
Mr.  Miao  became  a  Vice  President  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  in  December 
2005. Currently he also serves as the Chairman of both China Life Asset Management Company 
Limited  and  China  Life  Franklin  Asset  Management  Company  Limited,  the  Chinese  Alternate 
Representative  of  ABAC  (APEC  Business  Advisory  Council)  and  the  Director  of  the  Insurance 
Association  of  China,  and  was  awarded  special  allowance  by  the  State  Council.  He  is  one  of  the 
state-level  candidates  for  the  New  Century  Talents  Projects  of  2009.  Mr.  Miao  graduated  from 
the  post-graduate  division  of  the  People’s  Bank  of  China  majoring  in  money  and  banking.  He 
studied  at  the  Insurance  Faculty  of  Central  University  of  Finance  and  Economics  from  1982  to 
1986. Mr. Miao is a Senior Economist.

Mr. Shi Guoqing, born in 1952, Chinese
Mr. Shi became a Non-executive Director of the Company in 2004. Mr. Shi is also Vice President 
of China Life Insurance (Group) Company from August 2003, Chairman of China Life Insurance 
(Overseas)  Co.,  Ltd.,  Director  of  Beijing  Oriental  Plaza  Company  Limited,  Director  of  Hong 
Kong  Huiyen  Holding  Company  Limited,  Director  of  China  World  Trade  Center  Limited, 
Director  of  China  World  Trade  Center  Company  Limited,  Director  of  China  World  Trade 
Investments  Limited,  Chairman  of  Shanghai  PICC  Tower  Limited,  and  Director  of  Shanghai 
Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone United Development Co., Ltd. Mr. Shi graduated from Foreign 
Trade  and  Business  College  of  Beijing  in  1976.  Mr.  Shi,  a  Senior  Economist,  has  over  30  years 
of  experiences  in  the  insurance  industry,  and  has  accumulated  extensive  experiences  both  in  the 
operation and management of insurance businesses.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

34

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Ms. Zhuang Zuojin, born in 1951, Chinese
Ms. Zhuang became a Non-executive Director of the Company from June 2006, and served as the 
Vice President of China Life Insurance (Group) Company from August 2003, a Director of China 
Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited  from  June  2004.  She  acted  as  a  Director  of  China 
Life  Franklin  Asset  Management  Company  Limited  from  May  2006.  Ms.  Zhuang  graduated 
from  Correspondence  College  of  CCP  School,  majoring  in  Economics  and  Management,  and 
studied  Probability  and  Statistics  (major  in  Insurance  Actuary)  in  Zhejiang  University  from 
September 1998 to January 2000. Ms. Zhuang, a Senior Accountant, has worked in the insurance 
industry for over 29 years, and has accumulated extensive experiences both in the operation and 
management of insurance businesses. She is currently the Vice President of Financial Accounting 
Society of China.

Mr. Sun Shuyi, born in 1940, Chinese
Mr.  Sun  became  an  Independent  Director  of  the  Company  in  2004.  He  is  the  Executive  Vice 
President  of  the  China  Federation  of  Industrial  Economics,  the  Vice  Chairman  of  the  United 
China  Enterprise  Association,  the  Executive  Vice  President  of  the  China  Enterprise  Association, 
and  a  member  of  the  10th  Chinese  People’s  Political  Consultative  Conference.  From  1993  to 
2001,  Mr.  Sun  acted  as  the  Deputy  General  Manager  of  General  Office  of  the  Central  Steering 
Committee of Financial Affairs of China, the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Labour, the Deputy 
Party  Secretary  of  Central  Government  Enterprise  Working  Committee.  Mr.  Sun  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Science  and  Technology  of  China  in  1963  and  is  a  Senior  Engineer  and 
Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Ma Yongwei, born in 1942, Chinese
Mr. Ma became an Independent Director of the Company in 2006. Mr. Ma has been a member 
of  the  Standing  Committee  of  National  Committee  of  Chinese  People’s  Political  Consultative 
Conference  since  2003.  He  was  the  Chairman  of  CIRC  from  1998  to  2002.  From  1996  to 
1998,  he  served  as  the  Chairman  and  General  Manager  of  former  China  Insurance  Group 
Company.  From  1994  to  1996,  he  served  as  the  Chairman  and  General  Manager  of  the  former 
People’s  Insurance  Company  of  China.  From  1984  to  1994,  Mr.  Ma  served  as  the  Governor  of 
the  Agricultural  Bank  of  China.  Mr.  Ma  graduated  from  the  Finance  Department  of  Liaoning 
Finance and Economic University in 1966. Mr. Ma, a Researcher, has over 37 years of experience 
in the banking industry and the insurance industry.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

35

Mr. Sun Changji, born in 1942, Chinese
Mr.  Sun  became  an  Independent  Director  of  the  Company  in  May  2009.  From  January  1968, 
Mr.  Sun  worked  in  Sichuan  Oriental  Turbine  Factory,  serving  as  a  Section  Head,  a  Workshop 
Director,  a  Deputy  Factory  Manager  and  the  Factory  Manager.  In  July  1991,  he  was  appointed 
as  the  Deputy  Director-general  of  the  production  department  of  the  Ministry  of  Machinery 
Industry  of  the  PRC,  and  he  became  the  Vice  Minister  of  the  Ministry  of  Machinery  Industry 
of  the  PRC  in  April  1993.  In  April  1998,  he  became  the  First  Deputy  Director-general  of  the 
State  Administration  of  Machinery  Industry  of  the  PRC  (deputy  ministerial  level).  He  became 
the  Deputy  Party  Secretary  and  Vice  President  (deputy  ministerial  level)  of  Bank  of  China  in 
January 1999. From September 1999 to August 2001, he served concurrently as the President of 
China Orient Asset Management Corporation. He became the Vice Chairman of Bank of China 
in  November  2000,  the  Vice  Chairman  of  Bank  of  China  (Hong  Kong)  Limited  in  September 
2001 and the Secretary of Commission for Discipline Inspection of Bank of China in June 2003 
concurrently.  From  August  2004,  he  has  served  primarily  as  the  Vice  Chairman  of  Bank  of 
China  (Hong  Kong)  Limited  and  the  Vice  Chairman  of  China  Machinery  Industry  Federation 
concurrently.  Mr.  Sun,  now  a  Researcher-Level  Senior  Engineer,  graduated  from  Tsinghua 
University in September 1966.

Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore, born in 1949, American
Mr. Moore became an Independent Director of the Company in May 2009. From 2002 to 2007, 
Mr. Moore was Partner-in-charge of Asian actuarial services for Ernst & Young. He was based in 
Beijing for this job. He had served in actuarial leadership roles with Ernst & Young in New York 
and Tokyo. From 1995 to 2000, he was the head of international actuarial services in New York 
with  Ernst  &  Young.  In  2000,  Mr.  Moore  worked  with  Ernst  &  Young  in  Beijing  and  was  in 
charge of the business in Asian markets (including Japan). In 2001, he was responsible for Japan 
actuarial  services  in  Tokyo.  In  2002,  he  was  responsible  for  Asian  actuarial  services  (including 
Japan  actuarial  services)  in  Beijing.  From  1982  to  1995,  he  worked  in  various  senior  financial 
management  roles  at  Prudential  Life  Insurance  (U.S.).  Mr.  Moore  graduated  from  Brown 
University in 1971, majoring in applied mathematics. Mr. Moore is an FSA, FCAS, MAAA and 
CFA. Mr. Moore has over 35 years of experience serving the insurance industry as an executive or 
a consultant.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

36

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

SUPERVISORS

Ms. Xia Zhihua, born in 1955, Chinese
Ms.  Xia  became  a  Supervisor  of  the  Company  in  January  2006,  and  the  Chairperson  of  the 
Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company  in  March  2006.  Ms.  Xia  served  as  the  State  Council’s 
representative  in  CLIC,  the  Designated  Supervisor  of  bureau  level  grade  official  and  Office 
Director  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  of  China  Export  &  Credit  Insurance  Corporation  from 
August 2003 to December 2005. Ms. Xia had 16 years of work experience in the State Ministry 
of Finance relating to economic and financial management and 6 years of working experience as 
the  State  Council’s  representative  in  the  supervisory  board  of  state-owned  important  financial 
institutions.  Ms.  Xia  graduated  from  the  Department  of  Economics  at  Xiamen  University  in 
1982 and received a BA degree in Politics and Economics. She graduated from the Department of 
Economics at Xiamen University in 1984 and received a MA degree in World Economics.

Mr. Shi Xiangming, born in 1959, Chinese
Mr. Shi became the General Manager of the Supervisory Department of the Company in September 
2008.  Mr.  Shi  served  as  the  Deputy  General  Manager  of  the  Human  Resources  Department  and 
Offi ce Director of the Supervisory Committee in the Company from September 2003 to September 
2008.  From  March  2002  to  August  2003,  Mr.  Shi  served  as  the  Deputy  General  Manager  of  the 
Supervisory Department of China Life Insurance Company. Mr. Shi graduated from the Chemistry 
School of the fi rst branch college of Beijing University, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Science.

Ms. Yang Hong, born in 1967, Chinese
Ms.  Yang  became  a  Supervisor  of  the  Company  in  October  2006,  and  is  currently  the  General 
Manager  of  the  Customer  Service  Department  of  the  Company.  From  July  2003  to  October 
2006,  Ms.  Yang  served  as  the  Assistant  General  Manager  and  Deputy  General  Manager  of  the 
Business  Management  Department  of  the  Company.  Ms.  Yang  graduated  in  the  Computer 
Department of Jilin University with a Bachelor’s degree.

Mr. Wang Xu, born in 1967, Chinese
Mr. Wang served as the Chief of General Office of the Company since April 2009. He served as 
the  Deputy  Chief  (in  charge)  of  the  General  Office,  the  Deputy  General  Manager  of  the  Group 
Life  Insurance  Sales  Department,  and  the  Deputy  Chief,  the  Chief  and  the  Deputy  General 
Manager  of  the  Health  Insurance  Department  of  the  Company  from  January  1999  to  April 
2009.  He  also  served  as  a  doctor-in-charge  of  the  orthopedics  department  of  China  Aerospace 
Central  Hospital  from  1989  to  1999.  Mr.  Wang  graduated  from  Suzhou  Medical  Institute  with 
a  Bachelor’s  degree  in  medicine  in  1989  and  obtained  a  financial  MBA  degree  from  Chinese 
University of Hong Kong in 2004. Mr. Wang is an associate senior doctor.

Mr. Tian Hui, born in 1951, Chinese
Mr. Tian became a Supervisor of the Company in June 2004. He is currently the Vice Chairman 
and  Party  Secretary  of  China  Coal  International  Engineering  Research  Institute.  He  was  the 
Director  and  Party  Secretary  of  China  Coal  International  Engineering  Research  Institute 
from  June  2006  to  April  2008  and  the  Director  and  Deputy  Party  Secretary  of  China  Coal 
International  Engineering  Research  Institute  from  2000  to  2006.  Mr.  Tian  obtained  Bachelor’s 
and Doctor’s degrees from Fuxin Minery School and China University of Mining & Technology 
Beijing  respectively.  Mr.  Tian  is  a  professor-level  Senior  Engineer  and  a  Master  of  China 
Construction Design, and was awarded special allowance by the State Council.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

37

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Mr. Wan Feng, please see the section “Directors” for his profile.

Mr. Lin Dairen, please see the section “Directors” for his profile.

Ms. Liu Yingqi, please see the section “Directors” for her profile.

Mr. Liu Jiade, born in 1963, Chinese
Mr.  Liu  became  a  Vice  President  of  the  Company  in  2003  and  a  Director  of  China  Life  Asset 
Management  Company  Limited  from  June  2004.  Mr.  Liu  served  as  a  Director  of  China  Life 
Franklin  Asset  Management  Company  Limited  from  May  2006,  and  became  a  Director  of 
Guangdong Development Bank in December 2006. He became the Vice Director of the Finance 
Bureau of the Ministry of Finance since 2000. Mr. Liu is a graduate of Central Finance College 
in 1984 (now Central University of Finance and Economics), with a Bachelor’s degree in Public 
Finance. He is currently a Director of the Insurance Institute of China and a member of the State 
Ministry of Finance Accounting Information Committee.

Mr. Zhou Ying, born in 1954, Chinese
Mr.  Zhou  became  the  Vice  President  of  the  Company  since  August  2008  and  served  as  the 
secretary  of  the  commission  for  disciplinary  inspection  of  the  Company  since  November  2006. 
Mr. Zhou served as the Director of the Fifth Office (at Deputy Bureau level) and as a Designated 
Supervisor  in  Beijing  State-owned  Enterprise  Supervisory  Committee  (at  Deputy  Bureau  level) 
from  May  2004  to  November  2006.  Mr.  Zhou  graduated  from  University  of  Science  and 
Technology of China with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Mr. Su Hengxuan, born in 1963, Chinese
Mr.  Su  became  the  Vice  President  of  the  Company  since  August  2008.  Mr.  Su  served  as  the 
Assistant  to  President  of  the  Company  from  January  2006  to  July  2008.  Mr.  Su  acted  as  a 
Director  of  China  Life  Property  and  Casualty  Insurance  Company  Limited  from  November 
2006,  and  became  a  Director  of  Insurance  Professional  College  from  December  2006  and  a 
Director  of  China  Life  Security  Insurance  Agency  Company  Limited  from  December  2007.  He 
was the General Manager of the Company’s Individual Life Insurance Business Department from 
2003  to  2006.  Mr.  Su  graduated  from  Banking  School,  Henan  Province  in  1983  and  graduated 
from  Wuhan  University  in  1998  with  a  Bachelor’s  degree  in  Insurance  and  Finance,  majoring 
in  Insurance.  Mr.  Su,  a  Senior  Economist,  has  over  27  years  of  experience  in  the  Chinese  life 
insurance  industry  and  insurance  management.  He  is  currently  the  Chairman  of  Insurance 
Marketing Association of Insurance Association of China.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

38

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Miao Ping, born in 1958, Chinese
Mr.  Miao  became  the  Vice  President  of  the  Company  in  December  2009.  He  served  as  the 
General  Manager  of  the  Company’s  Jiangsu  branch  from  September  2006.  Mr.  Miao  has  served 
as  the  General  Manager  of  the  Company’s  Jiangxi  branch  from  September  2004  and  has  been  a 
Deputy General Manager of the Company’s Jiangsu branch from April 2002. Mr. Miao graduated 
from  the  Correspondence  College  of  Yangzhou  University  in  1996,  majoring  in  Economics  and 
Management.  Mr.  Miao,  a  senior  economist,  has  29  years  of  experience  in  the  operation  of  life 
insurance business and the management of insurance business.

Ms. Hwei-Chung Shao, born in 1954, American
Ms.  Shao  served  as  the  Chief  Actuary  of  the  Company  since  March  2007.  Ms.  Shao  had  been 
the  Senior  Deputy  President  of  and  Chief  Actuary  of  subsidiaries  under  Prudential  Financial 
Group  of  the  United  States,  and  has  accumulated  extensive  working  experience  in  insurance 
companies. She acted as the President and Senior Officer of many actuary societies, and obtained 
the  qualifications  of  CFA  (Chartered  Financial  Consultant),  CERA  (Chartered  Enterprise 
Risk  Analyst),  CEBS  (Certified  Employee  Benefit  Specialist),  CHFC  (Chartered  Financial 
Consultant),  CLU  (Chartered  Life  Underwriter),  MAAA  (Member  of  the  American  Academy  of 
Actuaries),  FSA  (Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Actuaries),  etc.  Ms.  Shao  obtained  a  Bachelor’s  degree 
from  National  Chengchi  University  in  Taiwan  and  a  Master’s  degree  from  University  of  Iowa, 
US. She is currently a member of Society of Actuaries of Greater China.

COMPANY SECRETARY

Mr. Heng Kwoo Seng, born in 1948, Chinese
Mr.  Heng  is  the  Company  Secretary  of  the  Company.  Mr.  Heng  was  the  Managing  Partner 
of  Morison  Heng  and  is  currently  the  Consultant  of  the  firm.  Prior  to  that,  he  served  as  the 
Manager  of  the  Finance  Department  of  Ka  Wah  Bank  Ltd.  and  as  an  Audit  Supervisor  of  Peat 
Matwick Mitchell & Co. in the United Kingdom. Mr. Heng is a fellow member of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and has over 18 years of experience in serving as 
company secretary of listed companies in Hong Kong.

QUALIFIED ACCOUNTANT

Mr. Yang Zheng, born in 1970, Chinese
Mr. Yang became the Qualified Accountant of the Company in 2006. He served as the Assistant 
to  the  General  Manager,  the  Deputy  General  Manager  and  the  General  Manager  of  the  Finance 
Department  of  the  Company  since  2005.  Mr.  Yang  has  been  a  Director  of  China  Life  Asset 
Management Company Limited since December 2009. Mr. Yang was the Senior Financial Analyst 
of MOLEX in America between 2000 and 2005. Mr. Yang graduated from Beijing University of 
Technology in Electric Manufacturing in 1993 and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. 
He  obtained  a  MBA  from  Northeastern  University  in  2000,  and  received  the  qualification  of 
Certified  Public  Accountants  of  Illinois  in  America  in  2004.  He  became  a  member  of  American 
Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 2005.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

39

II  EMPLOYEES

As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  we  have  104,535  employees.  The  Company  do  not  have  any  retired 
employees for which extra costs have to be incurred.

As at the end of the Reporting Period, our employee structure was as follows:

1.  Expertise

Class of Expertise 

Management and administration 
Sales and sales management 
Finance and auditing 
Insurance verification, claim processing and customer services 
Other expertise and technicians 
Others 

2.  Education Level

Education level 

Master or above 
Bachelor 
College Diploma 
Secondary School 
Others 

Number of Employees

21,450
26,320
7,967
39,239
3,800
5,759

Number of Employees

1,763
35,491
48,691
17,835
755

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

40

Corporate Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW
The  Company  implements  good  corporate  governance  policies  and  strongly  believes  that  through  fostering  sound 
corporate  governance,  the  Company  can  further  enhance  its  transparency  and  its  system  of  accountability,  to  achieve 
relevant aims of the Company, operate in a more efficient manner and boost the confidence of investors.

(I)  Summary of Corporate Governance

Shareholders’
General Meeting 

Board of
Directors

Supervisory
Committee

Audit Committee 

Nomination and 
Remuneration 
Committee 

Risk 
Management 
Committee  

Strategy 
Committee 

Board Secretary 
Board Secretariat/Company Secretary 

(Corporate Governance Structure Chart)

The  Company,  as  an  insurance  company  listed  in  Shanghai,  Hong  Kong  and  New  York,  actively  promotes 
development of the Company’s corporate governance framework in accordance with the regulatory requirements of 
its onshore and offshore listed jurisdictions, as well as the requirements of international best practices.

1. 

2. 

3. 

The  Company  has  set  up  a  relatively  standardized  and  comprehensive  corporate  governance  structure 
strictly in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and regulatory rules, such as the Company Law and the 
Securities Law of the PRC. There were no major differences between the corporate governance structure of 
the Company being implemented and that prescribed and required in the relevant documents of the CSRC. 
The  Company  complied  with  all  the  code  provisions  under  the  Code  on  Corporate  Governance  Practices 
published by the HKSE (the Code).

In  2009,  the  Company  revised  its  Articles  of  Association,  “Procedural  Rules  for  Shareholders’  General 
Meetings”,  “Procedural  Rules  for  Board  Meetings”  and  “Procedural  Rules  for  Supervisory  Committee 
Meetings” pursuant to the newly enacted laws and regulations of its onshore and offshore listed jurisdictions. 
Its  Shareholders’  General  Meetings,  Board  Meetings  and  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings  have  been 
functioning efficiently pursuant to its Articles of Association and their respective rules and procedures.

In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  CSRC  and  relevant  provisions  of  its  Articles  of  Association, 
the  Company  has  established  a  well-developed  decision-making  mechanism  for  its  Board  of  Directors  (the 
Board),  and  has  also  set  up  four  specialized  board  committees,  namely  the  Audit  Committee,  Nomination 
and  Remuneration  Committee,  Risk  Management  Committee  and  Strategy  Committee.  These  specialized 
board  committees  conduct  studies  on  specific  matters,  hold  meetings  on  both  regular  and  irregular  bases, 
communicate with the management, provide advice and recommendations for Directors’ consideration, and 
deal with matters entrusted or authorized by the Board for the purpose of improving the Board’s efficiency 
and capabilities.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Corporate Governance

41

4. 

In  strict  compliance  with  the  requirements  of  the  listing  rules  in  its  listed  jurisdictions,  the  Company 
discloses  information  in  a  timely,  accurate  and  complete  manner,  and  continues  to  improve  investor 
relations  and  increase  the  level  of  information  disclosure,  thus  ensuring  that  all  shareholders  and  investors 
have access to information about the Company in an open, fair, true and accurate manner, and improve the 
level of transparency of the Company’s operations.

(II)  The Campaign on Specific Improvements in Corporate Governance in 2009

Since  April  2007,  the  Company  has  adhered  strictly  to  the  arrangements  made  jointly  by  the  CSRC  and  the 
Beijing  Securities  Regulatory  Bureau  and  participated  in  the  Campaign  on  Specific  Improvements  in  Corporate 
Governance for two consecutive years in a well-planned and methodical manner, going through various procedures 
such  as  self-investigation,  public  consultation,  on-site  inspection,  improvements  and  sustained  improvement 
action.  The  Company  made  serious  efforts  to  implement  improvements  to  the  governance  issues  identified  in 
the  Campaign,  as  well  as  the  issues  identified  by  the  Beijing  Securities  Regulatory  Bureau  during  its  on-site 
investigation.  As  at  the  end  of  2008,  the  Company  has  substantially  completed  the  implementation  of  such 
improvements.

In  2009,  pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  “2009  Notice  on  Action  Related  to  the  Corporate  Governance 
of  Listed  Companies  in  Beijing”  issued  by  the  Beijing  Securities  Regulatory  Bureau,  and  consolidating  on  its 
achievements  in  the  implementation  of  improvements  in  previous  years,  the  Company  identified  horizontal 
competition and defects in ownership of properties and land as the main issues and commenced efforts to conduct 
self-investigations  and  implement  improvements.  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  has 
basically completed the relevant improvements.

1. 

Conducting self-investigation and implementing improvements in relation to horizontal competition. China 
Life-CMG  Life  Assurance  Company  Ltd.  (China  Life-CMG  Life),  previously  a  subsidiary  of  CLIC,  was  a 
sino-foreign  joint  venture  established  on  4  July  2000,  and  had  been  owned  as  to  51%  by  CLIC  and  as  to 
49%  by  CMG  Group  of  Australia.  The  business  of  China  Life-CMG  Life  was  in  horizontal  competition 
with  that  of  the  Company.  CLIC  agreed  to  sell  all  of  its  equity  interests  in  China  Life-CMC  Life  to  a 
third party within three years after the listing of the Company on the HKSE,  or  to  take  other measures  to 
eliminate any competition between China Life-CMG Life and the Company. In 2009, the equity transfer of 
China Life-CMG Life was approved by the Ministry of Finance and the CIRC. On 27 January 2010, CLIC 
transferred its 51% equity interests in China Life-CMG Life to the Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. with 
the  approval  of  the  State  Administration  for  Industry  and  Commerce.  As  a  result,  China  Life-CMG  Life 
Assurance Company Ltd. was formally renamed as BoCommLife Insurance Company Limited, and the issue 
of horizontal competition was completely eliminated.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

42

Corporate Governance

2. 

Conducting  self-investigation  and  implementing  improvements  in  relation  to  defects  in  ownership  of 
properties  and  land.  Prior  to  the  listing  of  the  Company’s  A  Shares,  land  use  rights  were  injected  into  the 
Company  during  its  reorganization.  Out  of  these,  4  pieces  of  land  (with  a  total  area  of  10,421.12  m2)  had 
not  had  its  formalities  in  relation  to  the  change  of  ownership  completed.  Further,  out  of  the  properties 
injected  into  the  Company,  there  were  6  properties  (with  a  gross  floor  area  of  8,639.76  m2)  in  respect  of 
which  the  formalities  in  relation  to  the  change  of  ownership  had  not  been  completed.  After  the  listing 
of  the  Company,  CLIC  actively  offered  assistance  in  dealing  with  such  formalities  in  strict  compliance 
with  its  commitments.  Save  for  the  property  located  at  Levels  A1  and  B2,  Yiye  Nanfang  Building, 
Luofang  Road,  Luohu  District,  Shenzhen,  for  which  the  land  and  property  ownership  certificates  have 
not  yet  been  obtained,  the  formalities  in  relation  to  the  change  of  ownership  for  the  remaining  lands  and 
properties have been completed. In 2009, the Company stepped up its efforts to complete such formalities 
for  the  above  property.  However,  the  issue  with  obtaining  land  and  property  ownership  certificates 
for  the  abovementioned  property  located  at  Levels  A1  and  B2,  Yiye  Nanfang  Building,  Luofang  Road, 
Luohu  District,  Shenzhen  has  been  a  long-standing  problem.  Prior  to  the  reorganization  and  listing  of 
the  Company,  the  property  was  jointly  financed  and  constructed  by  Yiye  Shenzhen  Nanfang  Industrial 
Company  (Shenzhen  Nanfang),  the  People’s  Insurance  Company  of  China,  Shenzhen  Branch,  and  China 
Life  Insurance  Company  Limited,  Shenzhen  Branch.  As  Shenzhen  Nanfang  offered  its  self-owned  land  for 
the construction of Yiye Nanfang Building as a condition for cooperation, the Land and Resources Bureau 
initially  registered  the  property  under  the  name  of  Shenzhen  Nanfang.  In  accordance  with  the  relevant 
provisions  of  the  Property  Law  of  the  PRC  currently  in  force,  all  public  areas  of  a  building  shall  not  be 
partitioned  and  only  common  ownership  in  respect  thereof  is  permitted.  Level  A1  of  Nanfang  Building 
(108.90 m2) is the public foyer of the whole building and cannot be partitioned. Therefore, the formalities 
in  relation  to  the  partition  of  Level  A1  cannot  proceed  due  to  legal  restrictions.  Level  B2  (800  m2)  is  an 
area  shared  by  the  Company  and  the  People’s  Insurance  Company  of  China,  Shenzhen  Branch.  Pursuant 
to  the  relevant  requirements,  the  Company  must  obtain  new  approvals  from  the  planning,  construction 
management, survey and fire departments before making an application to the Land and Resources Bureau 
for  the  partitioning  of  the  property  ownership  certificate.  Interim  measures  aimed  at  addressing  this 
problematic  property  right  issue  are  expected  within  a  short  timeframe.  Looking  forward,  the  Company 
will, pursuant to the relevant requirements, take advantage of the announcement of relevant policies by the 
Shenzhen  Municipal  Government  to  re-double  its  efforts  to  obtain  separate  land  and  property  ownership 
certificates, including through the designation of specific personnel to follow-up with this issue.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Corporate Governance

43

(III) State  of  development  of  the  “Accountability  System  for  Major  Errors  in  Annual  Report 

Disclosures” and the “System for the Administration of External Information Users”
In  accordance  with  the  “Guidance  Announcement  on  the  proper  preparation  of  2009  Listed  Company  Annual 
Reports and Related Tasks” issued by the CSRC (CSRC Announcement [2009] No. 34) and taking into account 
its  current  information  disclosure  framework,  the  Company  systematically  reorganized  its  existing  system  of 
information disclosure adminstration. With the improvements and amendments made to the system, the Company 
further  improved  its  “Accountability  System  for  Major  Errors  in  Annual  Report  Disclosures”  and  the  “System 
for  the  Administration  of  External  Information  Users”,  thereby  increasing  the  accountability  of  the  individuals 
responsible for information disclosure in annual reports and provides assurance as to its quality, and helps regulate 
the  workflow  for  the  administration  of  external  information  users.  The  revised  “Regulations  for  Information 
Disclosure of China Life Insurance Company Limited” and “Internal Reporting System for Material Information 
of China Life Insurance Company Limited” were considered and approved at the fifth meeting of the third session 
of the Board on 26 February 2010.

(IV)  Compliance with the Code on Corporate Governance Practices published by the HKSE

During  the  year  2009,  the  Company  complied  with  all  the  code  provisions  under  the  Code  on  Corporate 
Governance  Practices  published  by  The  Stock  Exchange  of  Hong  Kong  Limited.  The  Company  also  adopted 
certain recommended best practices under appropriate circumstances. It is noteworthy that the Company complies 
with and exceeds the exacting standards of the Code in the following ways:

1. 

2. 

3. 

currently, the Board consists of 11 members, of whom 4 are Independent Directors and 3 are Non-executive 
Directors.  Together  they  form  over  50%  of  the  membership  of  the  Board.  The  above  Board  composition 
complies  with  the  minimum  requirement  of  3  Independent  Directors  under  the  listing  rules  of  the  HKSE 
(the  Listing  Rules)  and  the  recommended  best  practice  under  the  Code  that  one-third  of  the  Board  be 
represented by Independent Directors;

in order to foster sound corporate governance and systemize the operations of the Company, the Articles of 
Association, “Procedural Rules for Shareholders’ General Meetings”, “Procedural Rules for Board Meetings” 
and  “Procedural  Rules  for  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings”  have  been  revised  regularly  pursuant  to 
relevant  newly  enacted  laws  and  regulations  of  the  Company’s  onshore  and  offshore  listed  jurisdictions. 
The  Shareholders’  General  Meetings,  the  Board  Meetings  and  the  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings  of  the 
Company  are  functioning  efficiently  pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  their  respective  rules  and 
procedures; and

in  2009,  in  order  to  improve  the  corporate  governance  of  the  Company  and  to  continue  with  the 
Campaign  on  Specific  Improvements  in  Corporate  Governance,  the  Company  took  effective  measures  and 
implemented  sustained  improvements  with  a  view  to  improving  the  operational  efficiency  of  the  Board 
and  enhancing  communication  with  investors.  The  Company  also  endeavoured  to  continuously  improve 
and  perfect  its  information  disclosure  system  and  procedures  and  become  more  proactive  on  information 
disclosure,  thereby  increasing  the  transparency  of  the  Company’s  operations  and  ensuring  that  investors 
(especially  investors  holding  small  to  medium  stakes  in  the  Company)  have  equal  access  to  information 
about the Company.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

44

Corporate Governance

SHAREHOLDERS’ GENERAL MEETING
The  Shareholders’  General  Meeting,  as  an  organ  of  power  of  the  Company,  exercises  its  duties  and  functions  in 
accordance  with  relevant  laws.  Its  duties  and  powers  include  the  election,  appointment  and  removal  of  Directors  and 
Supervisors, review and approval of the reports of the Board and the Supervisory Committee, review and approval of the 
annual budget and final accounts of the Company, and any other matters required by the Articles of Association to be 
approved  by  way  of  resolution  of  the  Shareholders’  General  Meeting.  The  Company  ensures  that  all  shareholders  have 
equal status so as to ensure that the rights of all shareholders are protected, including the right of access to information 
in  relation  to,  and  the  right  to  vote  in  respect  of,  major  matters  of  the  Company.  The  Company  has  the  ability  to 
operate  and  manage  its  business  autonomously,  and  is  separate  and  independent  from  its  controlling  shareholder  in  its 
business operations, personnel, assets and financial matters.

Shareholders’ General Meeting convened during the Reporting Period are as follows: 

Session of the meeting  

Date of the meeting  

Newspapers in which 
resolutions were published 

2009 Annual 
General Meeting  
(Annual General
Meeting for the year 2008)

25 May 2009 

China Securities Journal, Shanghai  
Securities News and Securities Times 

Date of publication
of resolutions

26 May 2009

BOARD
The  Board  is  a  standing  decision-making  body  of  the  Company  and  its  main  duties  include  the  following:  convening 
Shareholders’  General  Meetings,  implementing  resolutions  passed  at  such  meetings,  approving  the  Company’s 
development  strategies  and  operation  plans,  formulating  and  supervising  the  Company’s  financial  policies  and  annual 
budgets,  providing  an  objective  evaluation  on  the  Company’s  operating  results  in  its  financial  reports  and  other 
disclosure  documents,  dealing  with  senior  management  personnel  matters,  reviewing  internal  control  systems  and 
implementing  the  corporate  governance  policies  of  the  Company.  The  day-to-day  management  and  operation  of  the 
Company are delegated to the management. The responsibilities of Non-executive Directors and Independent Directors 
include,  without  limitation,  regular  attendance  at  meetings  of  the  Board  and  of  Board  committees  of  which  they  are 
members,  provision  of  independent  opinions  at  meetings  of  the  Board  and  other  Board  committees,  resolution  of 
any  potential  conflict  of  interest,  serving  on  the  Audit  Committee,  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  and 
other  Board  committees  and  inspecting,  supervising  and  reporting  on  the  performance  of  the  Company.  The  Board  is 
accountable to the shareholders of the Company and report to them.

At  present,  the  Board  consists  of  11  members,  including  4  Executive  Directors,  3  Non-executive  Directors  and  4 
Independent  Directors.  So  far  as  the  Company  is  aware,  no  financial,  business,  family  or  other  material  relationship 
exists  among  Board  members,  members  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  or  senior  management  (including  between  the 
Chairman, Mr. Yang Chao and the President, Mr. Wan Feng).

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Corporate Governance

45

In 2009, all Independent Directors of the Company possessed extensive experience in various fields, such as economics, 
insurance,  management,  finance  and  accounting.  The  Company  complies  with  the  requirement  of  the  Listing  Rules 
that  at  least  one  of  its  Independent  Directors  has  appropriate  professional  qualifications  or  accounting  qualifications 
or  related  financial  management  expertise.  As  required  under  the  Listing  Rules,  the  Company  has  obtained  a  written 
confirmation  from  each  of  its  Independent  Directors  in  respect  of  their  independence,  and  the  Company  is  of  the 
opinion that all of the Independent Directors are independent of the Company. Pursuant to the Articles of Association, 
Directors shall be elected at the Shareholders’ General Meeting for a term of three years and may be re-elected on expiry 
of the three-year term. Elections for the change of session of the Board were held in at the Annual General Meeting on 
25 May 2009. All Directors of the third session of the Board were appointed for a term of three years commencing on 25 
May 2009.

Meetings of the Board are held both on a regular and an ad-hoc basis. Regular meetings are convened by the Chairman 
at  least  four  times  a  year  at  approximately  quarterly  intervals,  and  14  days’  notice  is  given  to  all  Directors  before  such 
meetings. Agendas and related documents are sent to the Directors at least three days prior to such meetings. In 2009, 
all notices, agendas and related documents in respect of such regular Board meetings were sent in compliance with the 
above requirements.

Regular Board meetings are held mainly to review the quarterly, interim and annual reports of the Company and to deal 
with other related matters. The practice of obtaining Board consent through the circulation of written resolutions does 
not constitute a regular Board meeting. An ad-hoc Board meeting may be convened in urgent situations if requisitioned 
by  any  of  the  following:  shareholders  representing  over  one-tenth  of  voting  shares,  Directors  constituting  more  than 
one-third  of  the  total  number  of  Directors,  the  Supervisory  Committee,  more  than  2  Independent  Directors,  the 
Chairman or the President. If the resolution to be considered at such ad-hoc Board meetings has been circulated to all 
the Directors and more than half of the Directors having voting rights approves such resolution by signing the resolution 
in writing, the Board meeting need not be convened and such resolution in writing shall become an effective resolution. 
If  a  Director  is  materially  interested  in  a  matter  to  be  considered  by  the  Board,  the  Director  having  such  conflict  of 
interest shall have no voting rights on the matter to be considered and shall not be counted in the quorum for the Board 
meeting.

All  Directors  shall  have  access  to  the  advice  and  services  of  the  Company  Secretary  and  the  Board  Secretary.  Detailed 
minutes  of  Board  meetings  regarding  matters  considered  by  the  Board  and  decisions  reached,  including  any  concerns 
raised  by  Directors  or  dissenting  views  expressed,  are  kept  by  the  Board  Secretary.  Minutes  of  Board  meetings  are 
available upon reasonable notice for inspection and commenting upon by any Director.

1.  Overview of the Change of Session of the Board

In  2009,  the  second  session  of  the  Board  consisted  of  13  members,  including  4  Executive  Directors,  3  Non-
executive  Directors  and  6  Independent  Directors.  Pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  relevant 
regulatory rules, the term of the second session of the Board expired in June 2009. The third session of the Board 
was  elected  and  appointed  at  the  elections  for  the  change  of  session  of  the  Board  in  the  2009  Annual  General 
Meeting  (Annual  General  Meeting  for  the  year  2008)  held  on  25  May  2009.  The  Company  entered  into  service 
contracts with each of the Directors elected at such meeting on the same day and these contracts are determinable 
by  the  Company  within  one  year  without  payment  of  compensation  (other  than  statutory  compensation).  The 
third session of the Board consists of 11 members, including 4 Executive Directors, 3 Non-executive Directors and 
4 Independent Directors. All Directors were appointed with a term of three years commencing from 25 May 2009 
until the expiration of the term of the third session of the Board, or early termination for other reasons.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

46

Corporate Governance

2.  Meetings of the Board convened in 2009

Session of the meeting

Date of the meeting

Newspapers in which resolutions were 
published

Date of publication 
of resolutions

14th Meeting of the Second 
Session of the Board
15th Meeting of the Second 
Session of the Board 
16th Meeting of the Second 
Session of the Board 
1st Meeting of the Third 
Session of the Board 
2nd Meeting of the Third 
Session of the Board 
3rd Meeting of the Third 
Session of the Board 
4th Meeting of the Third 
Session of the Board 

19 January 2009

25 March 2009

23 April 2009

16 June 2009

25 August 2009

26 October 2009

21 December 2009

China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities News and Securities Times
China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities News and Securities Times
China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities News and Securities Times
China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities News and Securities Times
China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities News and Securities Times
China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities News and Securities Times
China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities News and Securities Times

20 January 2009

26 March 2009

24 April 2009

17 June 2009

26 August 2009

27 October 2009

22 December 2009

The resolutions passed at the above Board meetings were published on the HKExnews website of the Hong Kong 
Exchanges and Clearing Limited as overseas regulatory announcements.

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  best  practices  in  the  Code,  the  Company  convened  a  special  meeting  on 
26  October  2009,  which  was  presided  by  its  Chairman,  Mr.  Yang  Chao  and  attended  by  the  Company’s  Non-
executive Directors and Independent Directors. The purpose of the meeting was to consult with, and solicit advice 
and  recommendations  from,  all  Non-executive  Directors  and  Independent  Directors  in  respect  of  the  operation, 
management and systems of the Company.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Corporate Governance

47

3.  Meetings and Attendance

In  2009,  7  Board  meetings  were  held,  of  which  5  were  physical  meetings  and  2  were  combined  physical  and 
telephony meetings. The attendance records of individual Directors were as follows:

Name of Director  

Type of Director  

meetings the Director  
was required to attend 
during the year 

meetings 
meetings 
physically 
attended 
attended  by telephony 

meetings  Number of 
meetings 
attended 
absent 
by proxies 

Number of  Number of  Number of  Number of 

  Number of
times the
Director
failed to
attend two 
consecutive
meetings
in person

Yang Chao 
Wan Feng 
Lin Dairen 
Liu Yingqi 
Miao Jianmin 
Shi Guoqing 
Zhuang Zuojin 
Long Yongtu 
Sun Shuyi 
Ma Yongwei 
Chau Tak Hay 
Cai Rang 
Ngai Wai Fung 
Sun Changji  
Bruce Douglas Moore 

Executive Director  
Executive Director  
Executive Director  
Executive Director  
Non-executive Director  
Non-executive Director 
Non-executive Director  
Independent Director  
Independent Director  
Independent Director  
Independent Director 
Independent Director  
Independent Director 
Independent Director  
Independent Director  

7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
3 
7 
7 
3 
3 
3 
4 
4 

7 
6 
5 
7 
6 
6 
7 
3 
3 
7 
2 
3 
2 
4 
4 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
1 
0 
1 
0 
0 

0 
1 
2 
0 
1 
1 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

48

Corporate Governance

From  the  end  of  year  2009  up  to  the  Latest  Practicable  Date  (7  April  2010),  2  Board  meetings  were  held  and 
attendance records of individual Directors were as follows:

Number of  

meetings the Director   Number of  Number of  Number of 
meetings 
meetings 
physically 
attended 
attended  by telephony 

was required to 
 attend during  
the year  

meetings  Number of 
meetings 
attended 
absent 
 by proxies 

  Number of
times the
Director
 failed
 to attend two
consecutive
meetings
in person

Name of Director  

Type of Director  

Yang Chao 
Wan Feng 
Lin Dairen 
Liu Yingqi 
Miao Jianmin 
Shi Guoqing 
Zhuang Zuojin 
Sun Shuyi 
Ma Yongwei 
Sun Changji  
Bruce Douglas Moore 

Executive Director  
Executive Director  
Executive Director  
Executive Director  
Non-executive Director  
Non-executive Director  
Non-executive Director  
Independent Director  
Independent Director  
Independent Director  
Independent Director  

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
0 
2 
2 
2 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No

4.  Performance of duties by Independent Directors

In  2009,  all  Independent  Directors  of  the  Company  possessed  extensive  experience  in  various  fields,  such  as 
economics, insurance, management, finance and accounting. They satisfied the criteria for Independent Directors 
under  the  regulatory  rules  of  the  Company’s  listed  jurisdictions.  The  Independent  Directors  of  the  Company 
performed  their  duties  pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  provisions  and  requirements  of  the 
listing  rules  of  the  Company’s  listed  jurisdictions,  such  as:  attending  Board  meetings  of  the  Company  in  2009, 
participating  in  the  establishment  of  special  Board  committees,  providing  professional  and  constructive  advice  in 
respect  of  major  decisions  of  the  Company,  playing  an  important  role  in  the  standardization  of  the  Company’s 
operations,  and  safeguarding  the  legitimate  interests  of  shareholders  holding  small  to  medium  stakes  in  the 
Company.

In  2009,  the  Independent  Directors  of  the  Company  inspected  local  branches  of  the  Company  in  Beijing, 
Guizhou,  Shaanxi,  Heilongjiang,  Hunan  and  Jiangxi,  carrying  out  on-site  inspections  of  the  business,  operations 
and management of the Company.

During  the  Reporting  Period,  no  Independent  Director  has  raised  any  objection  against  a  Board  resolution  or 
other matters of the Company.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Corporate Governance

49

5. 

Implementation by the Board of resolutions adopted at Shareholders’ General Meetings
During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  convened  one  Shareholders’  General  Meeting.  The  Board  made 
decisions  strictly  within  the  authorizations  given  under  the  Shareholders’  General  Meeting,  performed  its  duties 
and  functions  with  diligence  and  implemented  the  resolutions  adopted  at  the  Shareholders’  General  Meeting 
pursuant  to  the  relevant  requirements  of  the  Company  Law  and  Securities  Law  of  the  PRC  and  its  Articles  of 
Association.

The profit distribution plan of the Company for 2008 was considered and approved at the 2009 Annual General 
Meeting (Annual General Meeting for the year 2008), being a resolution to “declare a dividend of RMB0.23 per 
share  in  cash  (including  taxes)”  (equivalent  to  HK$0.261262).  The  record  date  for  the  entitlement  to  dividend 
payment on A Shares was 11 June 2009; ex-right date was 12 June 2009 and dividend payment date was 19 June 
2009. The announcement for profit distribution in 2008 was published in the China Securities Journal, Shanghai 
Securities  News  and  Securities  Times  on  8  June  2009.  Dividends  on  H  Shares  were  distributed  to  the  holders 
of  H  Shares  whose  names  appeared  on  the  H  Share  register  of  members  on  25  May  2009  and  the  payment  in 
respect  thereof  was  made  on  3  August  2009.  Resolutions  adopted  at  the  Shareholders’  General  Meeting  and  the 
announcement  regarding  the  distribution  of  final  dividend  were  posted  on  the  HKExnews  website  of  the  Hong 
Kong  Exchanges  and  Clearing  Limited  (www.hkexnews.hk)  on  25  May  2009.  The  implementation  of  the  above 
distribution plan has been completed.

CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT
In 2009, Mr. Yang Chao was the Chairman and Mr. Wan Feng was the President of the Company. The Chairman is the 
legal  representative  of  the  Company,  primarily  responsible  for  convening  and  presiding  over  Board  meetings,  ensuring 
the implementation of Board resolutions, attending Annual General Meetings and arranging attendance by chairpersons 
of  Board  committees  to  answer  questions  raised  by  shareholders,  signing  securities  issued  by  the  Company  and  other 
important  documents,  and  exercising  other  rights  conferred  on  him  by  the  Board.  The  Chairman  is  responsible  to 
and  reports  to  the  Board.  The  President  is  responsible  for  the  day-to-day  operations  of  the  Company,  including 
implementing  strategies,  policies,  operation  plans  and  investment  schemes  approved  by  the  Board,  formulating  the 
Company’s  internal  control  structure  and  fundamental  management  policies,  drawing  up  basic  rules  and  regulations 
of  the  Company,  submitting  to  the  Board  requests  for  appointment  or  removal  of  senior  management  officers  and 
exercising  other  rights  granted  to  him  under  the  Articles  of  Association  and  by  the  Board.  The  President  is  fully 
responsible to the Board for the operations of the Company.

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
Pursuant to the Company Law of the PRC and the Articles of Association, the Company has established a Supervisory 
Committee. The Supervisory Committee is empowered by law to perform the following duties: to examine the finances 
of  the  Company;  to  monitor  whether  the  Directors,  President,  Vice  Presidents  and  other  senior  management  officers 
of  the  Company  have  acted  in  contravention  of  laws,  regulations,  the  Articles  of  Association  and  resolutions  of  the 
Shareholders’ General Meeting when discharging their duties; to review the financial information of the Company such 
as  financial  reports,  results  reports  and  profit  distribution  plans  to  be  approved  by  Board  of  Directors;  to  propose  the 
convening  of  extraordinary  Shareholders’  General  Meetings,  to  propose  resolutions  at  Shareholders’  General  Meetings 
and  to  perform  any  other  duties  under  the  laws,  regulations  and  supervisory  rules  of  the  Company’s  onshore  and 
offshore  listed  jurisdictions.  The  Supervisory  Committee  is  accountable  to  the  shareholders  and  reports  its  work  to  the 
Shareholders’ General Meeting according to relevant laws. It is also responsible for appraising the Company’s operations, 
financial reports, connected transactions and internal control, etc.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

50

Corporate Governance

Prior to 25 May 2009, the second session of the Supervisory Committee consisted of 5 members, of whom 3 were Non-
employees’  Representative  Supervisors  (includes  2  Shareholders’  Representative  and  1  External  Supervisor)  and  2  were 
Employees’  Representative  Supervisors.  Pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  relevant  regulatory  rules,  the 
term of the second session of the Supervisory Committee expired in June 2009. The Company elected and appointed 3 
Non-Employees’ Representative Supervisors (including 2 Shareholders’ Representative and 1 External Supervisor) at the 
2009  Annual  General  Meeting  (Annual  General  Meeting  for  the  year  2008)  held  on  25  May  2009,  and  2  Employees’ 
Representative Supervisors were elected at the employees’ representative meeting held on 25 May 2009, together forming 
the third session of the Supervisory Committee.

The Supervisory Committee currently consists of Ms. Xia Zhihua, Mr. Shi Xiangming, Ms. Yang Hong, Mr. Wang Xu 
and Mr. Tian Hui, of whom Ms. Xia Zhihua, Mr. Tian Hui and Mr. Shi Xiangming are Non-employees’ Representative 
Supervisors,  and  Ms.  Yang  Hong  and  Mr.  Wang  Xu  are  Employees’  Representative  Supervisors.  Ms.  Xia  Zhihua  was 
nominated  as  Supervisor  by  the  Supervisory  Committee  on  25  March  2009,  approved  as  Supervisor  by  poll  at  the 
Shareholders’ General Meeting held on 25 May 2009 and unanimously appointed as the chairperson of the Supervisory 
Committee by its members on 16 June 2009.

Meetings  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  are  convened  by  the  chairperson  of  the  Supervisory  Committee.  According  to 
the  Articles  of  Association,  the  Company  formulated  the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings”  and 
established  protocols  for  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings.  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings  are  categorized  as  regular 
or ad-hoc meetings in accordance with the degree of pre-planning involved. There are at least four regular meetings each 
year, mainly to adopt and review financial reports and annual reports, and examine the financials and internal control of 
the Company. Ad-hoc meetings are convened as and when necessary.

1.  Meetings and Attendance

In 2009, 7 meetings were held by the Supervisory Committee. Details are set out in the “Report of the Supervisory 
Committee” in this annual report. Attendance records of individual Supervisors are as follows:

Name of Supervisor  

Number of meetings attended  

Attendance rate

Xia Zhihua  
Shi Xiangming  
Yang Hong 
Wang Xu 
Tian Hui  
Wu Weimin  
Qing Ge  

7/7 
4/4 (Note 1) 
7/7 
3/4 (Note 2) 
7/7 
3/3 (Note 3) 
2/3 (Note 4) 

100%
100%
100%
75%
100%
100%
67%

Note 1:  Mr.  Shi  Xiangming  was  elected  as  a  Shareholders’  Representative  Supervisor  of  the  third  session  of  the  Supervisory 

Committee at the Annual General Meeting held on 25 May 2009.

Note 2:  On  25  May  2009,  the  Company  convened  an  employees’  representative  meeting,  during  which  Ms.  Yang  Hong  and 

Mr.  Wang  Xu  were  elected  as  Employees’  Representative  Supervisors  of  the  Company.  At  the  second  meeting  of  the 

third  session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  held  on  25  August  2009,  Mr.  Wang  Xu  was  on  leave  due  to  personal 

reasons and gave written authorization for Ms. Yang Hong to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

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51

Note 3:  Pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  relevant  laws  and  regulations,  Mr.  Wu  Weimin,  a  Supervisor  of  the 

second session of the Supervisory Committee, has ceased to act as Supervisor of the Company since 25 May 2009.

Note 4:  Pursuant to the Articles of Association and the relevant laws and regulations, Mr. Qing Ge, a Supervisor of the second 

session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee,  has  ceased  to  act  as  Supervisor  of  the  Company  since  25  May  2009.  At  the 

fifteenth  meeting  of  the  second  session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  held  on  23  April  2009,  Mr.  Qing  Ge  was  on 

leave due to personal reasons and gave written authorization for Mr. Wu Weimin to act as his proxy to attend and vote 

at the meeting.

From  the  end  of  the  year  2009  up  to  the  Latest  Practicable  Date,  the  Supervisory  Committee  convened  2 
meetings. Attendance records of individual Supervisors at meetings of the Supervisory Committee are as follows:

Name of Supervisor 

Number of meetings attended  

Attendance rate

Xia Zhihua  
Shi Xiangming  
Yang Hong 
Wang Xu 
Tian Hui  

2/2 
2/2 
2/2 
2/2 
2/2 

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

2.  Activities of the Supervisory Committee during the Reporting Period

For the work done by the Supervisory Committee during the Reporting Period, please refer to the “Report of the 
Supervisory Committee” in this annual report.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
The  Company  established  its  Audit  Committee  on  30  June  2003.  In  2009,  the  Audit  Committee  comprised  only 
Independent Directors of the Company, with Mr. Sun Shuyi acting as the chairman of the second session of the Audit 
Committee. Other members were Mr. Chau Tak Hay, Mr. Cai Rang and Mr. Ngai Wai Fung. The term of the second 
session of the Board expired in June 2009. Pursuant to the relevant requirements of the Articles of Association, the third 
session of the Board was elected, with Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore, Mr. Sun Shuyi and Mr. Sun Changji forming the third 
session of the Audit Committee. Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore acts as chairman.

All  members  of  the  Audit  Committee  have  extensive  experience  in  financial  matters.  Mr.  Bruce  Douglas  Moore  is  the 
financial  expert  of  the  Audit  Committee.  The  principal  duties  of  the  Audit  Committee  are  to  review  and  supervise 
the  preparation  of  the  Company’s  financial  reports,  assess  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s  internal  control  system, 
supervise the Company’s internal audit system and recommend the engagement or replacement of external auditors. The 
Audit Committee is also responsible for communications between the internal and external auditors.

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Corporate Governance

1.  Meetings and Attendance

In 2009, 6 meetings were held by the Audit Committee. Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member  

Position  

Sun Shuyi  

Chau Tak Hay 

Ngai Wai Fung 

Cai Rang 

Bruce Douglas Moore 

Sun Changji  

Independent Director, chairman of the  
second session of the Audit Committee, 
member of the third session of the 
Audit Committee 
Independent Director, member  
of the second session of 
the Audit Committee 
Independent Director, member  
of the second session 
of the Audit Committee 
Independent Director, member  
of the second session of 
the Audit Committee 
Independent Director, chairman  
of the third session of
the Audit Committee 
Independent Director, member 
of the third session of the 
Audit Committee  

Number of 

meetings attended   

Attendance
 rate

4/6 (Note 1) 

66.7%

2/2 (Note 2) 

100%

2/2 (Note 3) 

100%

2/2 (Note 4) 

100%

4/4 (Note 5) 

100%

4/4 (Note 6) 

100%

Note 1:  At  the  fifteenth  meeting  of  the  second  session  of  the  Audit  Committee  held  on  23  April  2009,  Mr.  Sun  Shuyi  gave 

written authorization for Mr. Cai Rang to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting. At the second meeting of 

the third session of the Audit Committee held on 25 August 2009, Mr. Sun Shuyi gave written authorization for Mr. 

Sun Changji to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

Note 2:  Pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  relevant  laws  and  regulations,  Mr.  Chau  Tak  Hay,  a  director  of  the 

second session of the Board, has ceased to act as Director of the Company since 25 May 2009.

Note 3:  Pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  relevant  laws  and  regulations,  Mr.  Ngai  Wai  Fung,  a  director  of  the 

second session of the Board, has ceased to act as Director of the Company since 25 May 2009.

Note 4:  Pursuant to the Articles of Association and the relevant laws and regulations, Mr. Cai Rang, a director of the second 

session of the Board, has ceased to act as Director of the Company since 25 May 2009.

Note 5:  Pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  relevant  laws  and  regulations,  Mr.  Bruce  Douglas  Moore  was  elected 

as Director of the third session of the Board at the Shareholders’ General Meeting for the year 2008 held on 25 May 

2009.

Note 6:  Pursuant to the Articles of Association and the relevant laws and regulations, Mr. Sun Changji was elected as director 

of the third session of the Board at the Shareholders’ General Meeting for the year 2008 held on 25 May 2009.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

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53

From  the  end  of  the  year  2009  up  to  the  Latest  Practicable  Date,  the  Audit  Committee  convened  2  meetings. 
Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position  

Bruce Douglas Moore 

Sun Changji 

Sun Shuyi 

Independent Director, chairman of  
the third session of the Audit Committee
Independent Director, member of the third   
session of the Audit Committee
Independent Director, member of the  
third session of the Audit Committee 

Number of  
meetings attended 

Attendance
 rate

2/2 

2/2 

2/2 

100%

100%

100%

2.  Performance of duties by the Audit Committee

(1)  Reviewing and approving the “Financial Report for the First Quarter of 2009”, the “2009 Interim Report”, 
the  “Financial  Report  for  the  Third  Quarter  of  2009”,  the  “2009  Financial  Report”,  the  “Proposal  on 
the  Change  of  Accounting  Policies  for  Onshore  Financial  Reports  and  the  Adoption  of  the  International 
Financial  Reporting  Standards  for  Offshore  Financial  Reports”  and  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  Actuarial 
Policies,  Assumptions  and  Effects”.  The  Audit  Committee  was  of  the  view  that  the  financial  reports  of  the 
Company reflected the overall situation of the Company in a true, accurate and complete manner, and gave 
its written opinion in this regard.

(2)  Determining  the  overall  scope  and  agenda  for  the  2009  audit  after  having  consulted  the  independent 
auditors  (PricewaterhouseCoopers  Zhong  Tian  Certified  Public  Accountants  Limited  Company  and 
PricewaterhouseCoopers);  receiving  from  the  independent  auditors  the  “Report  on  the  Annual  Integrated 
Audit Workplan”, the “Interim Report on the progress of the 2009 Annual Integrated Audit”, the “Review 
Results  of  the  2009  Interim  Report”  and  the  “Audit  Results  of  the  2009  Financial  Report”;  reviewing  the 
draft  2009  Interim  Review  Report  and  the  draft  2009  Annual  Audit  Report  issued  by  the  independent 
auditors;  reporting  to  the  Board  in  relation  to  the  “Resolution  in  relation  to  Auditors’  Remuneration  for 
2009  and  the  Appointment  of  Domestic  and  International  Auditors  for  2010”;  and  confirming  the  re-
appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian Certified Public Accountants Limited Company as the 
PRC auditor of the Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers as the international auditor of the Company.

(3)  Examining the internal audit functions and the effectiveness of the internal control system of the Company; 
reviewing  resolutions  such  as  those  in  relation  to  the  “First  Half  2009  Internal  Audit  Summary  and  the 
Second  Half  2009  Internal  Audit  Plan”,  the  “2009  Internal  Audit  Summary  and  the  2010  Internal  Audit 
Plan” and the “Audit Report of Connected Transactions in 2009” in order to facilitate the communication 
between the Company’s internal audit department and the independent auditors.

(4)  Providing  leadership  in  the  implementation  of  the  Company’s  internal  control  and  management  measures 
and  compliance  with  Section  404  of  the  U.S.  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act;  reviewing  the  “Resolution  concerning 
the Report on Internal Control Assessments”; receiving the “2009 Interim Report on the implementation of 
Internal Control Standards and Internal Control Assessments”, and the “Report on Issues Identified in the 
2009 Interim Internal Control Assessments and the Implementation of Improvements”.

 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

54

Corporate Governance

(5) 

Sending  members  of  the  Audit  Committee  to  Beijing,  Guizhou  Province  and  Shaanxi  Province  to  conduct 
investigative  information  gathering  exercises,  including  visiting  local  branches  of  the  Company,  examining 
their  accounting  practices,  inspecting  their  internal  control  system,  and  thereby  understanding  the  overall 
operations and management of the Company.

NOMINATION AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
The  Company  established  the  Management  Training  and  Remuneration  Committee  on  30  June  2003.  On  16 
March  2006,  the  Board  resolved  to  change  the  name  of  the  Management  Training  and  Remuneration  Committee  to 
the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee,  with  a  majority  of  Independent  Directors  on  the  committee.  The 
Nomination and Remuneration Committee is mainly responsible for reviewing the structure of the Board and drawing 
up plans for the appointment and succession of Directors and senior management. The committee is also responsible for 
formulating training and remuneration policies for the senior management of the Company.

The second session of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee comprised Messrs. Cai Rang and Sun Shuyi, both 
of whom were Independent Directors, and Messrs. Miu Jianming and Shi Guoqing, both of whom were Non-executive 
Directors.  Mr.  Cai  Rang  was  the  chairman  of  the  committee.  The  term  of  the  second  session  of  the  Board  expired  in 
June  2009.  Pursuant  to  the  relevant  requirements  of  the  Articles  of  Association,  the  third  session  of  the  Board  was 
elected, with Messrs. Sun Changji and Bruce Douglas Moore, both of whom are Independent Directors, and Mr. Miao 
Jianmin, who is a Non-executive Director forming the third session of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, 
with Mr. Sun Changji acting as the chairman.

So  far  as  the  nomination  of  Directors  is  concerned,  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  shall  first  discuss 
and agree on the list of candidates to be nominated as new Directors, following which such candidates are recommended 
to the Board. The Board shall then determine whether such candidates’ appointments should be proposed for approval 
at the Shareholders’ General Meeting. The major criteria considered by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
and  the  Board  are  educational  background,  management  and  research  experience  in  the  insurance  industry,  and  the 
candidates’  commitment  to  the  Company.  As  to  the  nomination  of  Independent  Directors,  the  Nomination  and 
Remuneration Committee will also give special consideration to the independence of the relevant candidates.

The  fixed  salary  of  the  Executive  Directors  and  other  members  of  senior  management  are  determined  in  accordance 
with  market  levels  and  their  respective  positions,  and  the  amount  of  their  performance-related  bonuses  is  determined 
according  to  the  results  of  performance  appraisals.  Directors’  fees  and  the  volume  of  share  appreciation  rights  to  be 
granted are determined with reference to market levels and the actual circumstances of the Company.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

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55

1.  Meetings and Attendance

In  2009,  2  meetings  were  held  by  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee.  Attendance  records  of 
individual members are as follows:

Name of member  

Position  

Cai Rang 

Sun Shuyi 

Miao Jianmin 

Shi Guoqing 

Sun Changji 

Bruce Douglas Moore  

Independent Director, Chairman of the 
second session of the Nomination
and Remuneration Committee 
Independent Director, member of the 
second session of the Nomination
and Remuneration Committee
Non-executive Director, member of the 
second session of the Nomination
and Remuneration Committee, 
member of the third session of the 
Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
Non-executive Director, member of the  
second session of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
Independent Director, Chairman of the  
third session of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
Independent Director, member of the  
third session of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee

Number of 
 meetings attended 

Attendance
 rate 

1/1 

1/1 

100%

100%

1/2 (Note 1) 

50%

– (Note 2) 

–

1/1 

1/1 

100%

100%

Note 1:  At the ninth meeting of the second session of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee held on 24 March 2009, 

Mr. Miao Jianmin gave written authorization for Mr. Sun Shuyi to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

Note 2:  At the ninth meeting of the second session of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee held on 24 March 2009, 

Mr. Shi Guoqing gave written authorization for Mr. Cai Rang to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Corporate Governance

From the end of the year 2009 up to the Latest Practicable Date, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
has convened 2 meetings. Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member  

Position  

Sun Changji 

Bruce Douglas Moore  

Miao Jianmin 

Independent Director, chairman of the  
third session of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
Independent Director, member of the  
third session of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
Non-executive Director, member of the 
third session of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee 

Number of  
meetings attended 

Attendance
 rate 

2/2 

2/2 

100%

100%

1/2 (Note 1) 

50%

Note 1:  At the third meeting of the third session of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee held on 6 April 2010, Mr. 

Miao Jianmin gave written authorization for Mr. Sun Changji as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

2.  Performance of duties by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee

In 2009, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee convened 2 meetings, and performed its relevant duties 
and  functions  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee 
Meetings”.  The  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  carefully  reviewed  the  skills,  knowledge  and 
experience  of  all  Directors,  members  of  Board  committees  and  senior  management  of  the  Company,  examined 
and  determined  the  remuneration  package  of  each  of  the  Executive  Directors  and  senior  management  officers, 
facilitated  the  signing  of  service  contracts  between  the  Company  and  each  of  the  Executive  Directors,  Non-
executive  Directors  and  Independent  Directors,  defined  the  rights,  obligations  and  status  of  Directors,  and 
appraised  the  performance  of  Directors  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties.  The  term  of  the  second  session  of  the 
Board  expired  in  June  2009.  Pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Nomination 
and Remuneration Committee Meetings”, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee considered and selected 
candidates for the third session of the Board, examined their qualifications and the independence of Independent 
Director candidates, and made to the Board nomination recommendations for the third session of the Board.

RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The  Company  established  its  Risk  Management  Committee  on  30  June  2003.  The  Risk  Management  Committee  is 
mainly  responsible  for  formulating  the  Company’s  system  of  risk  control  benchmarks,  assisting  the  management  in 
establishing and improving the Company’s internal control system, formulating the operational risk management policy 
of  the  Company,  reviewing  risk  and  internal  control  assessment  reports  in  relation  to  the  Company’s  operations,  and 
coordinating the handling of sudden and significant risks or crises.

The  second  session  of  the  Risk  Management  Committee  comprised  Mr.  Ma  Yongwei,  an  Independent  Director,  Mr. 
Wan  Feng,  an  Executive  Director,  Ms.  Zhuang  Zuojin,  a  Non-executive  Director,  and  Ms.  Liu  Yingqi,  an  Executive 
Director.  Mr.  Ma  Yongwei  was  the  chairman  of  the  committee.  The  term  of  the  second  session  of  the  Board  expired 
in  June  2009.  Pursuant  to  the  relevant  requirements  of  the  Articles  of  Association,  the  third  session  of  the  Board  was 
elected,  with  Mr.  Ma  Yongwei,  an  Independent  Director,  Ms.  Zhuang  Zuojin,  a  Non-executive  Director,  and  Ms.  Liu 
Yingqi,  an  Executive  Director  forming  the  third  session  of  the  Risk  Management  Committee  with  Mr.  Ma  Yongwei 
acting as the chairman.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

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57

1.  Meetings and Attendance

In  2009,  the  Risk  Management  Committee  held  1  meeting.  Attendance  records  of  individual  members  are  as 
follows:

Name of member 

Position  

Number of 
 meetings attended 

Attendance
 rate 

Ma Yongwei 

Zhuang Zuojin 

Liu Yingqi 

Independent Director, chairman of the  
third session of the Risk 
Management Committee 
Non-executive Director, member of the 
third session of the Risk 
Management Committee 
Executive Director, member of the 
third session of the Risk 
Management Committee

1/1 

1/1 

1/1 

100%

100%

100%

From the end of the year 2009 up to the Latest Practicable Date, the Risk Management Committee has convened 
1 meeting. Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position  

Number of  
meetings attended 

Attendance
 rate 

Ma Yongwei 

Zhuang Zuojin 

Liu Yingqi 

Independent Director, chairman of the  
third session of the Risk 
Management Committee 
Non-executive Director, member of the  
third session of the Risk 
Management Committee 
Executive Director, member of the  
third session of the Risk 
Management Committee

1/1 

1/1 

1/1 

100%

100%

100%

2.  Performance of duties by the Risk Management Committee

In  2009,  the  Risk  Management  Committee  performed  its  duties  and  functions  in  strict  compliance  with  the 
“Procedural Rules for Risk Management Committee Meetings”. In order to fulfill its duties, the Risk Management 
Committee conducted site visits at local branches of the Company in Heilongjiang, Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces 
in June and November 2009, examined the risk management measures implemented by these local branches, and 
compiled  investigation  reports  containing  advice  and  recommendations  in  relation  to  the  strengthening  of  risk 
management. In the year 2009, the Risk Management Committee convened 1 meeting to review the amendments 
to,  and  implementation  of,  the  “Internal  Control  Manual  (2009  Edition)”  of  the  Company,  and  discussed  and 
approved the investigation reports on risk management.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Corporate Governance

STRATEGY COMMITTEE
The  Company  established  the  Strategy  Committee  on  30  June  2003.  The  Strategy  Committee  is  mainly  responsible 
for  the  drawing-up  of  long-term  development  strategies  and  significant  investment  or  financing  plans  of  the 
Company,  proposing  significant  and  capital  intensive  projects  for  operating  assets,  and  conducting  studies  and  making 
recommendations  on  other  important  matters  affecting  the  development  of  the  Company.  The  second  session  of  the 
Strategy  Committee  comprised  Mr.  Long  Yongtu,  an  Independent  Director,  Mr.  Wan  Feng,  an  Executive  Director, 
Mr.  Shi  Guoqing,  a  Non-executive  Director  and  Mr.  Lin  Dairen,  an  Executive  Director.  Mr.  Long  Yongtu  was 
the  chairman  of  the  committee.  The  term  of  the  second  session  of  the  Board  expired  in  June  2009.  Pursuant  to  the 
relevant requirements of the Articles of Association, the third session of the Board was elected, with Mr. Sun Shuyi, an 
Independent Director, Mr. Wan Feng, an Executive Director, Mr. Shi Guoqing, a Non-executive Director, and Mr. Lin 
Dairen,  an  Executive  Director,  forming  the  third  session  of  the  Strategy  Committee  with  Mr.  Sun  Shuyi  acting  as  the 
chairman.

INTERNAL CONTROL
The  Company  has  always  devoted  significant  effort  towards  the  promotion  of  internal  control  and  the  establishment 
of  internal  control-related  systems.  In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  “Standard  Regulations  on  Corporate 
Internal  Control”,  the  “Guidance  on  Internal  Control  for  companies  listed  on  the  Shanghai  Stock  Exchange”,  the 
Listing Rules, and the “Provisional Appraisal Standards for the Internal Control of Insurance Companies” issued by the 
CIRC,  the  Company  has  committed  substantial  resources  to  build  its  internal  control  system,  its  implementation  plan 
and  its  risk  management  protocol  into  its  corporate  governance  structure.  The  Company  also  formulated  and  issued 
the  “Internal  Control  Manual  of  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited  (2009  Edition)”  to  further  supplement  and 
improve internal control standards and its implementation, strengthen internal control assessments, and actively promote 
the culture and philosophy of internal control, thereby enhancing the internal control of the Company.

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  “Notice  on  the  Proper  Preparation  of  2009  Listed  Company  Annual  Reports” 
promulgated by the SSE, the Company shall release an Internal Control Self-assessment Report simultaneously with the 
publication of its 2009 annual report. The Company, as an overseas private issuer, was required to provide an assessment 
report  on  specific  issues  concerning  its  internal  control  system  relating  to  financial  reporting  for  the  year  ended  31 
December  2009  in  its  Form  20-F  submitted  to  the  U.S.  Securities  and  Exchanges  Commission  (SEC)  (U.S.  Annual 
Report)  in  accordance  with  Section  404  of  the  U.S.  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act.  In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  laws 
and regulations relating to internal control at the Company’s listed jurisdictions and as response to the requirements of 
Section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the SSE, the Company has completed internal control self-assessments 
for the period ended 31 December 2009 and confirmed that its internal controls were effective. The Company had also 
received  from  its  independent  auditors  an  unqualified  opinion  on  the  effectiveness  of  its  internal  control  in  relation  to 
financial reporting on 31 December 2009. The Company’s assessment report and the report of its independent auditors 
will be included as an attachment to its annual report submitted to the SSE and its Form 20-F submitted to the SEC.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

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59

The Board and the Audit Committee are responsible for providing leadership for the implementation of internal control 
measures  of  the  Company,  and  the  Supervisory  Committee  supervises  the  internal  control  assessments  made  by  the 
Board.  The  Company  has  established  Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Departments  and  Internal  Control  and 
Compliance  Departments  in  its  headquarters  and  branches.  The  Company  also  conducts  tests  on  the  management 
level,  assessing  the  effectiveness  of  relevant  established  and  implemented  internal  control  systems  in  accordance  with 
the  requirements  of  the  PRC  regulations  and  Section  404  of  the  U.S.  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act,  and  report  the  same  to  the 
Board,  the  Audit  Committee  and  management.  In  compliance  with  regulatory  requirements  and  having  considered  the 
characteristics  of  its  business  and  management  requirements,  the  Company  established  and  implemented  a  series  of 
internal control measures and procedures with respect to currency and funds, insurance operations, foreign investments, 
physical assets, information technology, financial reporting and information disclosure to ensure the safety and integrity 
of  its  assets,  comply  with  relevant  PRC  laws  and  regulations  and  the  internal  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Company, 
while at the same time improving the quality of accounting data.

A relatively well-developed internal control system has been established in terms of team-building, sales and operations, 
and  systems  management  for  the  sales  channels  of  products  such  as  individual  insurance,  group  insurance,  health 
insurance,  provincial  insurance  and  bancassurance.  This  internal  control  system  regulates  the  relevant  administrative 
rights and operational workflows, and effectively controls the measures used to guard against and manage risks relating to 
the operation of exclusive agents. The Company has issued clear regulations for the workflows and administrative rights 
relating to the verification of insurance policies, insurance claims, and the safe custody of documents. The Company has 
also  defined  business  operation  standards  and  service  quality  standards,  developed  systems  of  business,  document  and 
files  management,  and  further  regulated  the  management  of  business  approval  authority  to  strengthen  its  control  over 
business risk and improve the quality of its services.

The  Company  established  transparent  and  standardized  investment  decision-making  procedures  and  procedural  rules 
to ensure that insurance funds are applied in a safe manner. The Company has set up a dedicated Investment Decisions 
Committee with its own procedural rules for meetings. Any investment plans of entrusted funds and direct investment 
plans  of  the  Company  are  implemented  only  after  receiving  approval  from  the  Investment  Decisions  Committee. 
This  ensures  that  all  investment  decisions  are  in  compliance  with  the  requirements  of  PRC  laws,  regulations  and 
administrative rules, and also take into consideration the balance between assets and liabilities of the Company.

The  Company  has  established  a  “one  department,  two  centers”  organizational  structure  consisting  of  its  Information 
Technology  Department,  Beijing  Research  &  Development  Center  and  Shanghai  Data  Center.  This  organizational 
structure  is  responsible  for  planning  information  technology  strategies  and  development,  researching  into  information 
technology systems, planning and establishing a standardized information platform and a secure system, and performing 
information  system  audits.  The  Company  has  also  formulated  a  series  of  effective  internal  control  structures  and 
measures in the course of system development and testing and day-to-day operation and management, and continues to 
make improvements in response to actual operational demands.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

60

Corporate Governance

The  Sales  Supervision  Department,  Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Department,  Audit  Department,  and 
Supervision Department of the Company are responsible for overseeing the implementation of its internal control. The 
Sales  Supervision  Department  supervises  and  inspects  every  aspect  of  the  sales  process  through  sales  pre-warnings  and 
risk  monitoring;  the  Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Department  identifies  issues  with  systems  design,  control 
implementation, and risk management in a timely manner through the adoption of various measures such as assessments 
at  the  Company  level,  testing  at  the  workflow  level  and  risk  analyses.  It  also  plugs  loopholes,  guards  against  risks  and 
reduces loss by employing measures such as improving systems, strengthening legal compliance and pursuing responsible 
parties.  The  Audit  Department  and  Supervision  Department  conduct  re-assessments  on  risk  management  and  internal 
control compliance through various auditing and monitoring activities.

1.  Progress on the self-assessment of internal supervision and control

A  Professionals’  Committee  has  been  established  under  the  Board.  It  works  together  with  the  Company’s 
management to review and discuss information disclosure mechanisms and procedures, as well as internal control 
mechanisms  relating  to  financial  reporting,  to  ensure  that  the  management  has  fulfilled  its  duties  in  relation  to 
mechanisms  and  procedures  it  regards  as  effective.  The  Professionals’  Committee  also  monitors  and  examines 
the  Company’s  financial  control,  information  disclosure  mechanisms  and  procedures,  internal  control  and 
risk  management  systems.  The  Board  also  reviews  the  Company’s  internal  control  self-assessment  reports,  risk 
assessment reports and compliance reports annually.

In  accordance  with  the  requirements  laid  down  by  the  provisions  of  the  “Standard  Regulations  on  Corporate 
Internal  Control”  jointly  issued  by  5  ministries  including  the  Ministry  of  Finance,  the  “Provisional  Appraisal 
Standards  for  the  Internal  Control  of  Insurance  Companies”  issued  by  the  CIRC  and  Section  404  of  the  U.S. 
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act,  the  Company  conducted  comprehensive  self-assessments  of  its  internal  controls.  In  addition 
to  conducting  supervisions  and  checks  in  accordance  with  the  abovementioned  external  regulatory  requirements, 
the  Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Department  of  the  Company  utilized  various  methods  to  supervise 
and  monitor  the  internal  control  of  several  of  the  Company’s  workflows,  ensuring  thorough  implementation  of 
its  internal  control  mechanism.  Every  year,  the  Audit  Department  and  its  related  departments  independently 
and  jointly  conduct  various  kinds  of  audits,  accounting  and  basic  accounting  appraisals  such  as  economic 
liability  audits,  financial  revenue  and  expenditure  audits  and  key  investment  audits.  This  is  beneficial  to  further 
safeguarding  the  thorough  implementation  of  the  regulations  and  systems  of  the  Company,  reducing  operational 
risk  exposure,  strengthening  internal  control,  optimizing  resource  allocation  and  improving  the  operational 
management of the Company.

The  Company  has  specifically  formulated  regulations  with  respect  to  the  report,  investigation,  handling  of  and 
responsibility  attribution  for  cases  involving  any  breach  of  laws,  discipline  and  regulations  by  employees,  such 
being implemented by the Supervision Department. This ensures that cases involving any breach of laws, discipline 
and  regulations  by  employees  are  dealt  with  in  a  timely  manner,  and  that  personnel  involved  will  be  attributed 
proper responsibility.

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61

2.  Defects in internal control and improvements

The Company has established a workflow called “evaluate - defect discovery - improve - cross-check”, which when 
combined with the implementation of its defect improvement, follow-up, inspection and responsibility attribution 
system, ensures that once a defect is identified in its internal control system, swift improvement measures, follow-
up  arrangements  and  cross-checks  will  be  made.  The  Company  conducted  a  self-assessment  on  internal  control 
relating to its financial reporting functions, and no material defect was found in the design and implementation of 
its internal control during the Reporting Period.

3.  Risk management

The  Company  established  a  well-developed  organizational  structure  of  risk  management  and  internal  control, 
properly defining the relevant duties and functions at different levels. The Board has set up the Risk Management 
Committee and the Audit Committee, while the President’s Office of the Company has set up several functional 
departments,  such  as  the  Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Committee,  the  Internal  Control  and  Risk 
Management  Department,  the  Sales  Supervision  Department,  the  Audit  Department,  the  Legal  and  Compliance 
Department,  and  the  Supervision  Department.  Provincial  branches  have  also  set  up  Internal  Control  and  Risk 
Management  Committees,  Internal  Control  and  Compliance  Departments,  Sales  Supervision  Departments, 
and  Supervision  Departments.  All  of  the  above  helps  shape  the  six-zone  strategic  layout  of  the  Company’s  audit 
centers.  For  an  analysis  of  the  major  risk  factors  of  the  Company,  please  refer  to  Note  4  in  the  Notes  to  the 
Consolidated Financial Statements of this annual report.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMPANY FROM ITS CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER
Employees: The Company is independent in the aspects of employment, human resources, compensation management.

Assets:  The  Company  owns  all  assets  relating  to  the  operation  of  its  principal  business.  At  present,  the  Company  does 
not provide any guarantee for its shareholders. The Company’s assets are independent, complete, and independent of the 
shareholders of the Company and its related parties.

Finance: The Company has established a separate financial department, and an independent financial accounting system 
and  financial  management  system;  further,  the  Company  makes  financial  decisions  on  its  own;  it  employs  separate 
financial personnel, opens separate accounts with banks and does not share bank accounts with CLIC. The Company, as 
a separate taxpayer, pays taxes individually according to laws.

Organization: The Company has established a well-developed organizational system, under which internal bodies such as 
the Board and the Supervisory Committee operate separately. There is no subordinate relationship between such internal 
bodies and the functional departments of the Company’s controlling shareholder.

Business  operations:  The  Company  independently  develops  its  business,  including  its  life  insurance,  accident  and 
injury  insurance  and  health  insurance  businesses,  reinsurance  relating  to  the  aforesaid,  use  of  funds  approved  by  the 
government and regulatory authorities, as well as its agency business, consulting business and the provision of services in 
relation to personal injury insurance. The Company currently possesses the “Insurance Company Legal Person Permit” 
(Number:  000005)  issued  by  the  CIRC.  The  Company  is  independently  engaged  in  the  businesses  as  prescribed  in  its 
business scope according to law, has separate sales and agency channels and is licensed to use licensed trademarks without 
consideration. The completeness and independence of the Company’s business operations will not be adversely affected 
by its relationship with related parties.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

62

Corporate Governance

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND INCENTIVES FOR SENIOR MANAGEMENT
The  Company  implements  a  term-of-service  and  target-related  responsibility  system  for  senior  management.  At  the 
beginning of each year, a performance target contract will be entered into between the Chairman and the President, the 
President and the Vice Presidents, and the President’s Office and the senior management of branches of the Company. 
The  performance  target  contract  system  is  an  important  tool  in  analyzing  the  strategic  goals  of  the  Company  in  a 
scientific  manner,  which  is  conducive  towards  the  breakdown  of  targets  and  transmission  of  responsibility,  enhancing 
the  efficiency  of  the  Company  and  ensuring  the  successful  completion  of  its  annual  business  targets.  The  performance 
appraisal  criteria  listed  in  the  individual  performance  target  contracts  of  senior  management  are  partially  linked  to  the 
business  targets  of  the  Company  and  partially  formulated  with  reference  to  the  duties  and  functions  of  their  respective 
positions.

The Company has established a remuneration and incentive system with reference to an individual employee’s position, 
the  Company’s  results  and  market  conditions.  The  remuneration  for  senior  management  comprises  basic  salary, 
performance compensation, welfare benefits and medium and long term incentives.

SHAREHOLDERS’ INTERESTS
To  safeguard  shareholders’  interests,  in  addition  to  the  right  to  participate  in  the  Company’s  affairs  by  attending 
Shareholders’  General  Meetings,  shareholders  have  the  right  to  convene  extraordinary  Shareholders’  General  Meetings 
under certain circumstances.

If  the  number  of  Directors  falls  below  the  minimum  requirements,  the  losses  incurred  reaches  one-third  of  the 
Company’s  total  share  capital,  or  if  the  Board  or  the  Supervisory  Committee  deems  necessary,  or  where  shareholders 
holding 10% or more shares of the Company make a requisition, the Board shall convene an extraordinary Shareholders’ 
General  Meeting  within  two  months  of  the  date  of  such  requisition.  Where  shareholders  holding  10%  or  more  shares 
requisition  an  extraordinary  Shareholders’  General  Meeting,  such  shareholders  shall  make  a  request  in  writing  to  the 
Board  with  a  clear  agenda.  The  Board  shall,  upon  receipt  of  such  a  written  request,  convene  a  meeting  as  soon  as 
possible.  If  the  Board  fails  to  convene  a  meeting  within  30  days  of  the  receipt  of  such  a  written  request,  shareholders 
making  such  a  request  may  convene  a  meeting  by  themselves  at  the  cost  of  the  Company  within  four  months  of  the 
receipt by the Board of such a written request.

Shareholders  may  put  forward  enquiries  to  the  Board  through  the  Company  Secretary  or  the  Board  Secretary,  or  put 
forward proposals at Shareholders’ General Meetings through their proxies. The Company has made available its contact 
details in its correspondence with shareholders to enable such enquiries or proposals to be properly directed.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Corporate Governance

63

INFORMATION DISCLOSURE AND INVESTOR RELATIONS
Being  a  triple-listed  financial  conglomerate,  the  Company  has  put  great  emphasis  on  the  timeliness,  accuracy  and 
completeness  of  information  disclosure  since  gaining  listing  status,  and  has  established  a  well-developed  and  practical 
information  disclosure  system  in  strict  compliance  with  the  laws  and  regulatory  rules  of  its  listed  jurisdictions  so  as  to 
ensure  smooth  channels  of  access  to  information  and  disclosures,  and  the  compliance  with  the  information  disclosure 
obligations  of  the  Company  as  required  by  its  onshore  and  offshore  listed  jurisdictions,  so  as  to  ensure  that  domestic 
and  overseas  investors  obtain  equal  information.  In  2009,  the  Company  further  standardized  and  strengthened  the 
procedures for internal reporting of material information and the administration of external disclosure of information.

In  2009,  the  Company  published  approximately  150  periodic  reports  and  ad-hoc  announcements  in  its  onshore  and 
offshore  listed  jurisdictions  in  a  timely  manner  pursuant  to  its  stringent  internal  control  mechanism  and  effective 
workflows.  While  strictly  complying  with  regulatory  requirements  and  coordinating  to  ensure  consistent  information 
disclosure  across  jurisdictions,  the  Company  places  particular  focus  on  information  disclosure  risk  management  to 
protect  the  interest  of  its  shareholders  and  its  image  in  the  capital  markets.  The  Company  will  continue  to  strictly 
comply with the listing rules and regulatory requirements of its listed jurisdictions, improve the information disclosure 
system and workflows, and enhance the quality of its information disclosure and the transparency of its operations.

In  2009,  the  Company  has  also  taken  a  series  of  measures  to  enhance  investor  relations,  which  mainly  includes 
holding  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  holding  press  conferences  for  performance  results,  embarking  on  global  non-
deal roadshows, meeting and holding conference calls with investors and investment analysts, organizing the Corporate 
Open  Day,  attending  investors’  meetings,  updating  information  on  its  investor  relations  website  on  a  real-time  basis, 
establishing  an  investor  relations  hotline  and  an  exclusive  electronic  mailbox  to  ensure  timely  replies  to  any  enquiries 
made by investors and investment analysts.

In 2009, the Company communicated with more than 2,600 investors and analysts through different channels, including 
the reception at the Company of more than 220 groups of investors and analysts consisting of more than 800 individuals 
in total, communicating with more than 810 investors by participating in 24 investors’ meetings held locally or overseas, 
inviting about 100 local and overseas investors and analysts to attend its Corporate Open Day, and meeting and visiting 
330  investors  in  the  results  release  conference  and  roadshows.  In  addition,  the  Company  kept  in  close  contact  with 
investors’  groups  by  phone  and  email,  and  communicated  through  more  than  1,500  emails  with  investors’  groups,  and 
answered and replied more than 2,000 calls and electronic mail.

In  2009,  the  Company’s  investor  relations  website  was  awarded  the  “Most  Popular  Listed  Company  Website  among 
Investors in China” and the “Best Information Disclosure Website” in the “1st Outstanding Websites of Chinese Listed 
Companies Awards” by the Securities Times.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

64

Report of the Board of Directors

From left to right:
Ms. Liu Yingqi, 
Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore, 
Mr. Ma Yongwei, 
Ms. Zhuang Zuojin, 
Mr. Wan Feng, 
Mr. Yang Chao, 
Mr. Miao Jianmin, 
Mr. Shi Guoqing, 
Mr. Sun Shuyi, 
Mr. Sun Changji, 
Mr. Lin Dairen

1.  PRINCIPAL BUSINESS

The Company is the largest life insurance company in China and possesses the most extensive distribution network 
in China, comprising exclusive agents, direct sales representatives as well as dedicated and non-dedicated agencies. 
The  Company  provides  products  and  services  such  as  individual  and  group  life,  accident  and  health  insurance. 
The Company is one of the largest institutional investors in China, and has become China’s largest insurance asset 
management  company  through  its  controlling  shareholding  in  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited. 
The Company also holds a controlling stake in China Life Pension Company Limited.

2.  EXPLANATIONS IN RELATION TO THE ADOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL 

FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS
For an explanation in relation to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, please refer to Note 
2 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this annual report.

3.  MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

For an analysis of the Company’s operating and financial results, please refer to the section headed “Management 
Discussion and Analysis” in this annual report.

4.  DETAILS OF ANY PROFIT DISTRIBUTION PLAN OR PUBLIC RESERVES 

CAPITALIZATION PLAN
In accordance with the profit distribution plan approved by the Board on 7 April 2010, after the appropriation to 
its discretionary surplus reserve fund of RMB3,293 million (10% of the net profit for 2009), the Company, based 
on  there  being  28,264,705,000  shares  in  issue,  proposed  to  distribute  cash  dividends  amounting  to  RMB19,785 
million  to  all  shareholders  at  RMB0.70  per  share.  The  foregoing  profit  distribution  plan  is  to  take  effect  after 
approval  by  the  Annual  General  Meeting  to  be  held  on  4  June  2010  (Friday).  Domestic  shareholders’  dividends 
are  declared,  valued  and  paid  in  RMB.  Dividends  payable  to  shareholders  of  the  Company’s  foreign-listed  shares 
are  declared  and  valued  in  RMB  and  paid  in  the  currency  of  the  jurisdiction  in  which  the  foreign-listed  shares 
are  listed  (if  the  Company  is  listed  in  more  than  one  jurisdiction,  dividends  shall  be  paid  in  the  currency  of  the 
Company’s  principal  jurisdiction  of  listing  as  determined  by  the  Board).  The  Company  shall  pay  dividends  to 
shareholders  of  foreign-listed  shares  in  conformity  with  PRC  regulations  on  foreign  exchange  control.  If  no  such 
regulations are in place, the applicable exchange rate is the average exchange rate published by the People’s Bank of 
China one week before the declaration of the distribution of dividends or other payments.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Report of the Board of Directors

65

For the purposes of distributing after-tax profits, unless otherwise required by regulatory authorities, the relevant 
amount  of  after-tax  profits  shall  be  the  lesser  of:  firstly,  such  amount  as  appeared  in  the  financial  statements 
prepared  in  accordance  with  China  Accounting  Standards  for  Business  Enterprises;  and  secondly,  such  amount 
as  appeared  in  the  financial  statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  financial  reporting  standards  of  the 
Company’s offshore listed jurisdictions.

No public reserve capitalization is provided for in the profit distribution plan for the current financial year.

5.  RESERVES

Details  of  the  reserves  of  the  Company  are  set  out  in  the  section  headed  “Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements” in this annual report.

6.  CHARITABLE DONATIONS

The total amount of charitable donations made by the Company and its subsidiaries for the Reporting Period was 
RMB55.10 million.

7.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Details  of  the  movement  in  property,  plant  and  equipment  of  the  Company  are  set  out  in  the  section  headed 
“Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” in this annual report.

8. 

SHARE CAPITAL
Details of movement in share capital of the Company are set out in the section headed “Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements” in this annual report.

9.  BANK BORROWINGS

As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company did not have any bank borrowings.

10.  INFORMATION ON TAX DEDUCTION

Main  items  for  tax  deduction  while  calculating  the  2009  enterprise  income  tax  payable  by  the  Company  are  as 
follows:

Interest income received from government bonds: 
Dividend income from funds: 

RMB6,972 million
RMB2,052 million

11.  PURCHASE, SALE OR REDEMPTION OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES

During the Reporting Period, the Company and its subsidiaries have not purchased, sold or redeemed any of the 
Company’s listed securities.

12.  H SHARE STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

No  H  Share  Stock  Appreciation  Rights  of  the  Company  were  granted  or  exercised  in  2009.  The  Company  will 
deal with such rights and related matters in accordance with PRC governmental policy.

13.  DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE BOARD

Details of Board meetings, implementation by the Board of resolutions passed at Shareholders’ General Meetings 
and the Board’s performance of its duties are set out in the section headed “Corporate Governance” in this annual 
report.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

66

Report of the Board of Directors

14.  DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ SERVICE CONTRACTS

None  of  the  Directors  or  Supervisors  has  entered  into  any  service  contract  with  the  Company  that  are  not 
terminable within one year or can only be terminated by the Company with payment of compensation (other than 
statutory compensation).

15.  DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ INTERESTS IN MATERIAL CONTRACTS

None  of  the  Directors  or  Supervisors  is  or  was  materially  interested,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  contracts  of 
significance entered into by the Company or its controlling shareholders or any of their respective subsidiaries at 
any time during the Reporting Period.

16.  DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ RIGHTS TO ACQUIRE SHARES

At no time during the Reporting Period had the Company authorized its Directors, Supervisors or their respective 
spouses  or  children  under  the  age  of  18  to  benefit  by  means  of  the  acquisition  of  shares  or  debentures  of  the 
Company or any of its other associated corporations, and no such rights for the acquisition of shares or debentures 
were exercised by them.

17.  DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ INTERESTS IN SHARES

As at the end of the Reporting Period, none of the Directors or Supervisors had any interests or short positions in 
the shares, underlying shares and debentures of the Company or its associated corporations (within the meaning of 
Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the SFO)) that were 
required to be recorded in the register of the Company required to be kept pursuant to Section 352 of the SFO or 
which  had  to  be  notified  to  the  Company  and  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  pursuant  to  the  Model  Code  for 
Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers (the Model Code) as set out in Appendix 10 to the Listing 
Rules. In addition, the Board has created a Code of Conduct in relation to the sale and purchase of the Company’s 
securities by Directors and Supervisors, which is no less stringent than the Model Code. Upon specific inquiry by 
the Company, the Directors and Supervisors have confirmed observation of the Model Code and the Company’s 
own Code of Conduct in the year of 2009.

18.  PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS AND ARRANGEMENTS ON OPTIONS OF SHARES

According to the Articles of Association and relevant PRC laws, there is no provision for any pre-emptive rights of 
the shareholders of the Company. At present, the Company does not have any arrangement for options on shares.

19.  MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

No  management  or  administration  contracts  for  the  whole  or  substantial  part  of  any  business  of  the  Company 
were entered into during the Reporting Period.

20.  MATERIAL GUARANTEES

Independent  Directors  of  the  Company  have  rendered  their  independent  opinions  on  the  Company’s  external 
guarantees, and are of the view that:

(1) 

during the Reporting Period, the Company did not provide any external guarantee;

(2) 

the Company’s internal control system regarding external guarantees comply with laws, regulations, and the 
requirements under the “Notice in relation to the standardization of capital flows between Listed Companies 
and Connected Parties and Issues in relation to External Guarantees granted by Listed Companies”; and

(3) 

the  Company  has  expressly  provided  in  its  Articles  of  Association  the  level  of  authority  required  for 
approving external guarantees and the approval procedures.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Report of the Board of Directors

67

21.  MAJOR CUSTOMERS

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  premium  income  and  policy  fees  received  from  the  Company’s  five  largest 
customers accounted for less than 30% of the Company’s total premium income and policy fees for the year. None 
of the Directors of the Company or any of their associates or any shareholders (which to the best knowledge of the 
Directors, has more than 5% of the Company’s issued share capital) had any beneficial interest in the Company’s 
five largest customers.

22.  SUFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC FLOAT

Based on the information that is publicly available to the Company and within the knowledge of the Directors as 
at the Latest Practicable Date (7 April 2010), not less than 25% of the issued share capital of the Company (being 
the minimum public float applicable to the shares of the Company) was held in public hands.

23.  COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

None  of  the  Directors  of  the  Company  are  aware  of  any  information  that  would  reasonably  indicate  that  the 
Company  did  not  meet  the  applicable  code  provisions  under  the  Code  on  Corporate  Governance  Practices 
contained  in  Appendix  14  to  the  Listing  Rules  during  the  Reporting  Period.  Details  are  set  out  in  the  section 
headed “Corporate Governance” in this annual report.

24.  AUDITORS

Resolutions were passed at the 2009 Annual General Meeting (Annual General Meeting for the year 2008) to engage 
PricewaterhouseCoopers  Zhong  Tian  Certifi ed  Public  Accountants  Limited  Company  and  PricewaterhouseCoopers 
as  the  PRC  and  international  auditors  to  the  Company  in  2009.  PricewaterhouseCoopers  Zhong  Tian  Certifi ed 
Public  Accountants  Limited  Company  and  PricewaterhouseCoopers  have  been  the  Company’s  auditors  for  7 
consecutive years.

Remuneration  paid  by  the  Company  to  the  auditors  is  approved  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  pursuant  to 
which  the  Board  is  authorized  to  determine  the  amount  and  make  payment.  Audit  fees  paid  by  the  Company  to 
the auditors will not affect the independence of the auditors.

Remuneration paid by the Company to the auditors in 2009 was as follows:

Service/Nature 

Audit and audit-related services 

Expenses (RMB millions)

69.5

A resolution for the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the international auditor and PricewaterhouseCoopers 
Zhong Tian Certified Public Accountants Limited Company as the PRC auditor of the Company will be proposed 
at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting for the year 2009 to be held on 4 June 2010.

By Order of the Board
Yang Chao
Chairman

Beijing, China
7 April 2010

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

68

Report of the Supervisory Committee

From left to right:
Ms. Yang Hong, Mr. Tian Hui,
Ms. Xia Zhihua, Mr. Shi Xiangming, 
Mr. Wang Xu

1.  MEETINGS OF THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

Date 

Issues Discussed

19 January 2009
The Thirteenth Meeting of the Second
Session of the Supervisory Committee

25 March 2009
The Fourteenth Meeting of the Second
Session of the Supervisory Committee

1. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

Reviewed  and  approved  the  “2008  Supervisory  Committee 
Report on Specific Issues”

Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  in  relation  to  the 
2008 Financial Report”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “2008  H  Share  Annual  Report” 
and the “2008 A Share Annual Report”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “2008  H  Share  Report  of  the 
Supervisory  Committee”,  the  “2008  A  Share  Report  of  the 
Supervisory Committee”, and the submission of such for the 
approval of the Shareholders’ General Meeting
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  in  relation  to  the 
2008 Profit Distribution Plan”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  in  relation  to 
the  ‘Self-evaluation  Report  of  the  Board  regarding  the 
Company’s Internal Control Systems’”
Reviewed and approved the “2008 Self-evaluation Report on 
the Company’s Internal Control Systems”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “2008  Report  on  Connected 
T r a n s a c t i o n s  t h e  i m p l e m e n t a t i o n  o f  t h e  C o n n e c t e d 
Transactions Management System”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “2008  Report  on  the  Audit  of 
Connected Transactions”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “2008  Supervisors’  Performance 
Report”

10.  Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Key  tasks  for  the  Supervisory 

Committee for 2009”

11.  Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  on  the  amendment 
o f  t h e  ‘ P r o c e d u r a l  R u l e s  o f  S u p e r v i s o r y  C o m m i t t e e 
Meetings’”

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Report of the Supervisory Committee

69

Date 

Issues Discussed

12.  Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  in  relation  to 
the  nomination  of  candidates  to  the  Third  Session  of  the 
Supervisory Committee”

13.  Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  in  relation  to 
convening the fifteenth meeting of the second session of the 
Supervisory Committee”

1. 
2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

1. 
2. 

1. 

Reviewed and approved the “2009 First Quarter Report”
Reviewed and approved the “Resolution approving the ‘2008 
Compliance Report’”

Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  on  the  selection 
of  the  Chairperson  of  the  Third  Session  of  the  Supervisory 
Committee”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  on  the  2009 
Workplan of the Supervisory Committee”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  on  convening 
the  second  meeting  of  the  third  session  of  the  Supervisory 
Committee”

Reviewed  and  approved  the  “2009  A  Share  Interim  Report” 
and the “2009 H Share Interim Report”
Receiving  the  “Report  on  the  latest  progress  in  relation  to 
the A Share and H Share accounting policies for the financial 
reports  of  the  Company”  and  the  “2009  Interim  Report 
on  the  implementation  of  Internal  Control  Standards  and 
Internal Control Assessments”

Reviewed and approved the “2009 Third Quarter Report”
Reviewed  and  approved  the  “Resolution  on  the  Supervisory 
Committee Investigation Report on Hunan and Anhui”

Received  the  “Progress  Report  on  the  harmonization  of 
accounting policies for A Share and H Share financial reports 
of the Company”

23 April 2009
The Fifteenth Meeting of the Second
Session of the Supervisory Committee

16 June 2009
The First Meeting of the Third Session
of the Supervisory Committee

25 August 2009
The Second Meeting of the Third Session
of the Supervisory Committee

26 October 2009
The Third Meeting of the Third Session
of the Supervisory Committee

21 December 2009
The Fourth Meeting of the Third Session
of the Supervisory Committee

2.  ACTIVITIES OF THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

1. 

Forging  ahead  with  the  systemization  and  standardization  of  the  activities  of  the  Supervisory  Committee. 
In  2009,  the  Supervisory  Committee  continued  its  efforts  to  systemize  and  standardize  its  activities. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  experience  gained  during  2008  and  combining  such  with  the  key  targets  for 
2009, the Supervisory Committee approved the “Key Tasks for the Supervisory Committee for 2009” after 
discussions  among,  and  the  commenting  thereon  by  all  Supervisors.  This  laid  down  a  good  foundation 
for  the  effective  commencement  of  its  tasks  and  the  performance  of  its  supervisory  duties  in  2009.  In 
2009,  in  order  to  perfect  the  procedures  for  Supervisory  Committee  meetings,  the  Supervisory  Committee 
amended  the  “Procedural  Rules  of  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings”  in  accordance  with  relevant  changes 
to  the  supervisory  rules  and  the  Articles  of  Association,  and  worked  towards  ensuring  that  the  relevant 
systems are in place such that a legal or regulatory basis is found for tasks performed. In combination with 
the  Company’s  efforts  in  basic  systemic  development  and  management  standardization,  the  Supervisory 
Committee  revised  its  systems  and  formulated  the  relevant  workflows,  clarifying  the  key  items  in  the 
implementation  of  different  systems,  and  contributed  towards  the  systemization  and  standardization  of  the 
committee’s work.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

70

Report of the Supervisory Committee

2. 

3. 

4. 

Completing  elections  of  the  change  of  session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  in  accordance  with  relevant 
regulatory requirements. The second session of the Supervisory Committee of the Company expired in June 
2009  in  accordance  with  the  Company  Law  of  the  PRC,  Articles  of  Association  and  relevant  regulations. 
In  February  2009,  the  Supervisory  Committee  commenced  the  election  process  in  strict  compliance  with 
regulatory requirements and completed the necessary tasks in relation to the election of a new session of the 
Supervisory  Committee.  After  preparing  the  list  of  Supervisor  candidates  and  approval  by  the  Supervisory 
Committee  and  the  Shareholders’  General  Meeting,  on  25  May  2009,  the  Shareholders’  General  Meeting 
chose  2  Non-employees’  Representative  Supervisors  and  1  External  Supervisor,  while  the  employees’ 
representative meeting chose 2 Employees’ Representative Supervisors, thereby completing the migration to 
the third session of the Supervisory Committee.

Carrying  out  investigations  and  research  and  strengthening  supervision  and  inspection.  According  to 
the  2009  Supervisory  Committee  annual  research  workplan,  the  Supervisory  Committee  organized 
two  investigation  and  research  teams  to  inspect  the  Company’s  Hunan  and  Anhui  Branches  in  order 
to  understand  the  Company  at  its  grassroots,  discuss  issues  with  members  of  the  working  staff  and 
thereby  gaining  a  clearer  picture  of  the  implementation  of  operational  decisions  made  by  the  Company’s 
headquarters  at  a  local  level.  Through  such  activities,  the  Supervisory  Committee  obtained  a  better 
understanding  of  the  operations  management,  business  activities  and  risk  management  of  the  Company’s 
branches,  and  compiled  the  “2009  Supervisory  Committee  Investigation  Report”.  The  investigation  and 
research  exercise  was  fruitful,  and  had  a  positive  effect  on  the  ability  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  to 
exercise its powers and fulfill its responsibilities.

Participating  in  supervision  training  and  improving  the  Supervisors’  abilities  to  perform  their  duties. 
In  accordance  with  regulatory  requirements,  the  Supervisors  took  turns  to  take  part  in  a  three-day 
training  course  held  by  the  Beijing  Securities  Regulatory  Bureau  for  the  Directors,  Supervisors  and  senior 
management  of  the  Company  in  2009.  The  training  provided  a  comprehensive  and  systematic  study  of 
corporate governance theory and practice, and also provided communication opportunities with other listed 
companies,  laying  a  good  foundation  for  the  improved  performance  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  in  the 
discharge of its duties.

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Report of the Supervisory Committee

71

3. 

INDEPENDENT OPINION OF THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE ON CERTAIN 
MATTERS
During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company  performed  its  duties  in  a  diligent 
manner in accordance with the terms of reference prescribed by the Company Law of the PRC and the Articles of 
Association.

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

The  Company’s  operations’  compliance  with  the  law.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company’s 
operations  were  in  compliance  with  the  law.  The  Company’s  operations  and  decision-making  procedures 
were  in  compliance  with  the  Company  Law  of  the  PRC  and  the  Articles  of  Association.  During  the 
Reporting  Period,  all  Directors  and  senior  management  of  the  Company  maintained  strict  principles  of 
diligence and integrity, and the Supervisory Committee is not aware of any of them having violated any law, 
regulation,  or  any  provision  in  the  Articles  of  Association  or  harmed  the  interests  of  the  Company  in  the 
course of discharging their duties.

The  verity  of  the  financial  report.  The  Company’s  annual  financial  report  truly  and  completely  reflected 
the  state  of  the  Company’s  financial  position  and  operating  results.  PricewaterhouseCoopers  Zhong  Tian 
Certified  Public  Accountants  Limited  Company  and  PricewaterhouseCoopers  have  performed  audits  and 
have  issued  unqualified  auditors’  reports  for  the  year  ended  2009  in  accordance  with  China  Standards  on 
Auditing of PRC Certified Public Accountants and International Standards on Auditing, respectively.

Acquisition and sale of assets. During the Reporting Period, the prices for acquisition and sale of assets were 
fair  and  reasonable.  The  Supervisory  Committee  is  not  aware  of  any  insider  trading,  any  acts  harming  the 
interests of shareholders or the incurring of any loss to the Company’s assets.

Connected  transactions.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  connected  transactions  of  the  Company  were 
on  commercial  terms.  The  Supervisory  Committee  is  not  aware  of  any  acts  harming  the  interests  of  the 
Company.

Internal  control  system.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  has  sought  to  improve  its  internal 
control system, and continued to improve the effectiveness of such system.

By Order of the Supervisory Committee
Xia Zhihua
Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee

Beijing, China
7 April 2010

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

72

Signifi cant Events

1.  USE OF FUNDS RAISED

The  global  share  offering  of  the  Company  in  December  2003  provided  cash  proceeds  of  approximately 
RMB24,707  million  (US$3,062  million).  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  cash  proceeds  from  the 
global offering was partly used for investments in foreign stock markets, partly for investments in foreign-currency 
denominated  debts  in  China,  and  partly  held  in  bank  deposit  accounts  denominated  in  foreign  currencies  in 
China. In addition, the Company has, in aggregate, converted approximately US$300 million of the cash proceeds 
into RMB to reduce foreign exchange risk. The Company applied approximately US$433 million for investments 
into Guangdong Development Bank, and used over HKD5,800 million to subscribe for new shares in Sino-Ocean 
Land  Holdings  Limited.  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  through  the  usage  of  funds  mentioned  above, 
the  foreign-currency  funds  obtained  by  the  Company  from  its  global  share  offering  achieved  good  returns  on 
investment.

The  A  Share  offering  of  the  Company  in  December  2006  provided  cash  proceeds  of  approximately  RMB27,810 
million. The Company received such cash proceeds on 29 December 2006. As at the end of the Reporting Period, 
the cash proceeds from its A Share offering were used to strengthen its capital base.

2.  CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS

(1)  Continuing Connected Transactions

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  following  continuing  connected  transactions  were  carried  out  by  the 
Company  pursuant  to  Rule  14A.34  of  the  Listing  Rules,  including  the  policy  management  agreement 
between  the  Company  and  CLIC,  the  asset  management  agreement  between  the  Company  and  AMC, 
and  the  asset  management  agreement  between  CLIC  and  AMC.  These  continuing  connected  transactions 
were  subject  to  reporting  and  announcement  but  were  exempt  from  independent  shareholders’  approval 
requirements under the Listing Rules.

(1)  Policy Management Agreement

As  part  of  the  restructuring,  CLIC  transferred  its  entire  branch  services  network  to  the  Company. 
In  order  to  capitalize  on  the  large  customer  base  of  CLIC,  increase  the  utilization  of  the  Company’s 
customer  service  network  and  increase  its  revenue  sources,  CLIC  engaged  the  Company  to  provide 
policy  administration  services  relating  to  the  retained  policies  (non-transferred  policies)  after  the 
restructuring.  The  Company  and  CLIC  have  constantly  signed  policy  management  agreements  since 
30  September  2003.  The  Company  and  CLIC  entered  into  a  confirmation  letter  on  30  December 
2008,  pursuant  to  which  both  parties  confirmed  the  further  renewal  of  the  policy  management 
agreement  for  three  years  from  1  January  2009  to  31  December  2011.  Pursuant  to  the  renewed 
policy  management  agreement,  the  Company  agreed  to  provide  policy  administration  services  to 
CLIC relating to the non-transferred policies, including day-to-day insurance administration services, 
customer  services,  statistics  and  file  management,  invoice  and  receipt  management,  reinstatement  of 
non-transferred  policies,  applications  for  and  renewal  of  additional  coverage  to  the  non-transferred 
policies, reinsurance, and handling of disputes relating to the non-transferred policies. The Company 
acts  as  a  service  provider  under  the  agreement  and  does  not  acquire  any  rights  or  assume  any 
obligations as an insurer under the non-transferred policies. For details as to the method of calculation 
of the service fee, please refer to Note 29 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The 
annual cap for each of the three years ending 31 December 2011 is RMB1,402 million.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2009,  the  service  fee  paid  by  CLIC  to  the  Company  amounted  to 
RMB1,193 million.

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Signifi cant Events

73

(2)  Asset Management Agreements

(a)  Asset Management Agreement between AMC and the Company

Since  30  November  2003,  the  Company  has  been  entering  into  asset  management  agreements 
with  AMC.  The  Company  and  AMC  entered  into  a  renewed  asset  management  agreement 
on  30  December  2008,  which  was  valid  until  31  December  2009.  According  to  the  terms  of 
renewal of the agreement, its term has been automatically extended until 31 December 2010. In 
accordance  with  the  renewed  asset  management  agreement,  AMC  agreed  to  invest  and  manage 
assets  entrusted  to  it  by  the  Company,  on  a  discretionary  basis,  subject  to  the  investment 
guidelines  given  by  the  Company.  The  Company  retains  the  title  of  the  entrusted  assets  and 
AMC is authorized to operate the accounts associated with the entrusted assets for and on behalf 
of  the  Company.  All  investment  incomes  and  losses  relating  to  the  assets  managed  by  AMC 
pursuant  to  the  agreement  will  be  retained  and  borne  by  the  Company  (as  the  case  may  be). 
In  consideration  of  AMC’s  services  in  respect  of  investing  and  managing  various  categories  of 
assets entrusted to it by the Company under the agreement, the Company agreed to pay AMC a 
service fee. For details as to the method of calculation of the asset management fee, please refer 
to  Note  29  in  the  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  The  Company  has  set  the 
annual cap amount at RMB800 million for 2009 and 2010.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2009,  the  Company  paid  AMC  an  asset  management  fee  of 
RMB540 million.

(b)  Asset Management Agreement between CLIC and AMC

Since  30  November  2003,  the  Company  has  been  entering  into  asset  management  agreements 
with  CLIC.  CLIC  and  AMC  entered  into  a  renewed  CLIC  asset  management  agreement  (the 
Renewed  CLIC  Asset  Management  Agreement)  on  30  December  2008.  The  Renewed  CLIC 
Asset  Management  Agreement  is  for  a  term  of  three  years,  effective  from  1  January  2009  and 
expiring on 31 December 2011. The parties will negotiate the terms of renewal of the agreement 
90 days prior to its termination, provided that the Company satisfies the requirements under the 
Listing Rules in relation to renewal of agreements. In accordance with the Renewed CLIC Asset 
Management Agreement, AMC agreed to invest and manage assets entrusted to it by CLIC, on a 
discretionary basis, subject to the investment guidelines and instructions given by CLIC. CLIC 
retains the title of the entrusted assets and AMC is authorized to operate the accounts associated 
with the entrusted assets for and on behalf of CLIC. For details as to the method of calculation 
of the asset management fee, please refer to Note 29 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements. The annual caps for each of the three years ending 31 December 2011 are RMB280 
million, RMB290 million and RMB300 million, respectively.

For the year ended 31 December 2009, CLIC paid AMC an asset management fee of RMB112 
million.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

74

Signifi cant Events

CERTIFICATION BY AUDITOR
The  Board  has  received  a  comfort  letter  from  the  auditor  of  the  Company  with  respect  to  the  above 
continuing  connected  transactions  which  were  subject  to  reporting  and  announcement  requirements,  and 
the letter stated that:

(a) 

such continuing connected transactions have been approved by the Board;

(b) 

for  transactions  involving  provision  of  services  by  the  Company,  they  are  in  accordance  with  the 
pricing policies of the Company;

(c) 

the  transactions  have  been  entered  into  in  accordance  with  the  relevant  agreements  governing  the 
transactions; and

(d) 

the amounts of the continuing connected transactions have not exceeded the relevant annual caps.

CONFIRMATION BY INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
The  Company’s  Independent  Directors  have  reviewed  the  above  continuing  connected  transactions  which 
were subject to reporting and announcement requirements, and confirmed that:

(a) 

the transactions were entered into in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Company;

(b) 

the  transactions  were  conducted  either  on  normal  commercial  terms  or  on  terms  that  are  fair  and 
reasonable so far as the Company’s independent shareholders are concerned;

(c) 

the  transactions  were  entered  into  in  accordance  with  the  agreements  governing  those  connected 
transactions; and

(d) 

the amounts of the continuing connected transactions have not exceeded the relevant annual caps.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Signifi cant Events

75

(2)  Other Connected Transactions

(a)  Capital Injection into AMC

On  9  February  2009,  the  Company,  CLIC  and  AMC  signed  the  “China  Life  Asset  Management 
Company  Limited  Capital  Injection  Contract”  (the  Capital  Injection  Contract).  According  to  the 
Capital  Injection  Contract,  the  Company  and  CLIC  shall  inject  RMB2  billion  into  AMC,  of  which 
RMB1.2 billion is to be contributed by the Company (being 60% of the registered capital increase of 
AMC), and RMB0.8 billion is to be contributed by CLIC (being 40% of the registered capital increase 
of AMC). As at the end of the Reporting Period, the registrations with the Administration of Industry 
and Commerce for the capital injection have been completed.

(b)  The Entrustment of Enterprise Annuity Funds and Account Management Agreement

On 27 July 2009, the Company, CLIC and AMC signed the “China Life Insurance (Group) Company 
Entrustment  of  Enterprise  Annuity  Funds  and  Account  Management  Agreement”  with  the  Pension 
Company.  The  agreement  is  valid  for  three  years  from  the  date  the  entrusted  funds  are  transferred 
into a special entrustment account. As a trustee and account manager, the Pension Company provides 
trusteeship and account management services for the enterprise annuity funds of the Company, CLIC 
and AMC and charges trustee management fees and account management fees in accordance with the 
agreement.

(3)  Statement on Claims, Debt Transactions and Guarantee Transactions etc. with Connected 

Parties
During the Reporting Period, the Company was not involved in claims, debt transactions or guarantees with 
connected parties outside the course of its business.

3.  MATERIAL CONTRACTS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF MATERIAL CONTRACTS

1.  During the Reporting Period, the Company neither acted as trustee, contractor or lessee of other companies’ 
assets,  nor  have  entrusted,  contracted  or  leased  other  companies’  assets,  the  income  from  which  is 
responsible for 10% or above of the Company’s profits for the year.

2. 

3. 

4. 

The  Company  neither  gave  external  guarantees  nor  provided  guarantees  to  its  subsidiaries  during  the 
Reporting Period.

Apart  from  entrusting  funds  with  AMC  and  its  subsidiaries  for  asset  management  purposes,  the  Company 
did not entrust other companies with the management of cash assets during the Reporting Period.

Except  otherwise  disclosed  in  this  annual  report,  the  Company  had  no  other  material  contracts  during  the 
Reporting Period.

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76

Signifi cant Events

4.  UNDERTAKINGS OF THE COMPANY OR SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING MORE THAN 

5% OF THE SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY WHICH ARE EITHER GIVEN OR 
EFFECTIVE DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD
(1)  As  the  controlling  shareholders  of  the  Company,  CLIC  undertook  not  to  transfer  or  entrust  others  to 
manage  their  direct  and  indirect  holdings  in  the  Company,  nor  allow  the  Company  to  repurchase  such 
shares for a period of 36 months from the date of listing of the Company’s A Shares. CLIC strictly followed 
these commitments during the Reporting Period. The lock-up of the 19,323,530,000 shares held by CLIC 
has  expired  on  11  January  2010.  According  to  the  “Implementation  Measures  in  relation  to  the  Transfer 
of  certain  State-owned  Shares  on  the  Domestic  Stock  Market  to  enrich  the  National  Social  Security  Fund 
Policy”  and  Notice  No.  63,  jointly  promulgated  by  the  Ministry  of  Finance  of  PRC,  the  State-owned 
Assets  Supervision  and  Administration  Commission,  the  CSRC  and  the  National  Social  Security  Fund 
Council,  150,000,000  shares  of  the  Company  held  by  CLIC  have  been  frozen  in  accordance  with  the  law. 
The Company received a written notification from CLIC informing the Company that CLIC will fulfill its 
obligation  to  transfer  the  state-owned  shares  through  payment  of  funds,  and  thereby  continue  to  hold  the 
shares. CLIC will commence procedures for un-freezing those shares after payment of the funds.

(2)  Prior  to  the  listing  of  the  Company’s  A  Shares  (30  November  2006),  land  use  rights  were  injected  by 
CLIC  into  the  Company  during  its  reorganization.  Out  of  these,  four  pieces  of  land  (with  a  total  area  of 
10,421.12 m2) had not had its formalities in relation to the change of ownership completed. Further, out of 
the properties injected into the Company, there were six properties (with a gross floor area of 8,639.76 m2) 
in  respect  of  which  the  formalities  in  relation  to  the  change  of  ownership  had  not  been  completed.  CLIC 
undertook to complete the abovementioned formalities within 1 year of the date of listing of the Company’s 
A  Shares,  and  in  the  event  such  formalities  could  not  be  completed  within  such  period,  CLIC  would  bear 
any  potential  losses  to  the  Company  in  relation  thereto.  CLIC  strictly  followed  these  commitments.  As  at 
the end of the Reporting Period, save for the two properties and related lands of the Company’s Shenzhen 
Branch, all other formalities in relation to the change of land and property ownership have been completed. 
The Shenzhen Branch of the Company continues to use such property and land, and no other parties have 
questioned or hindered the use of such property and land by the Company.

(3)  China  Life-CMG  Life,  previously  a  subsidiary  of  CLIC,  was  a  sino-foreign  joint  venture  established  on 
4  July  2000,  and  had  been  owned  as  to  51%  by  CLIC  and  as  to  49%  by  CMG  Group  of  Australia.  The 
business scope of China Life-CMG Life is to conduct the following businesses (excluding statutory insurance 
business)  within  the  administrative  district  of  Shanghai  municipality  and  in  the  provinces,  autonomous 
regions  and  municipalities  where  it  has  established  branches:  (1)  insurance  business  such  as  life  insurance, 
health  insurance  and  accident  and  casualty  insurance;  (2)  re-insurance  of  the  above  insurance  businesses. 
CLIC undertook to sell all of its equity interests in China Life-CMC Life to a third party within three years 
after  the  listing  of  the  Company  on  the  HKSE,  or  to  take  other  measures  to  eliminate  any  competition 
between China Life-CMG Life and the Company.

On  27  January  2010,  CLIC  transferred  its  51%  equity  interests  in  China  Life-CMG  Life  to  the  Bank 
of  Communications  Co.,  Ltd.  with  the  approval  of  the  Ministry  of  Finance  of  the  PRC,  the  State 
Administration  for  Industry  and  Commerce  and  the  CIRC.  As  a  result,  China  Life-CMG  Life  Assurance 
Company Ltd. was formally renamed as BoCommLife Insurance Company Limited, and CLIC had thereby 
fulfilled its undertaking.

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Signifi cant Events

77

5.  MAJOR LITIGATION AND ARBITRATION

The Company was not a party to any major litigation or arbitration during the Reporting Period.

6.  OTHER AFFAIRS

Pursuant to the Audit Law of the PRC and the 2010 Auditing Plan of the National Audit Office of the PRC (the 
NAO),  in  the  latter  half  of  February  2010  the  NAO  has  started  gathering  information  from  the  Company  in 
preparation for its upcoming routine audit of the Company. The audit forms part of the NAO’s routine audits on 
relevant financial institutions, and the Company shall provide every assistance to the NAO’s work in this regard.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

78

Honors & Awards

“Forbes”  Forbes Global 2000 for 2009, ranking No. 72

“FinanceAsia”  Best Corporate Governance Award and Best Investor Relations Award for 2009

“The Asset”  China’s Most Promising Companies 2009

Oliver Wyman  Best Stable Returns in the Financial Services Sector (2005-2009)

The Credible Enterprise of China Accreditation 2009, ranking No.1

“21st Century Business Herald”  Top 100 Life Insurance Companies in Asia for 2009, ranking No.1

CBN  Life Insurance Company for 2009

Top Ten Charity Companies on the 2009 China Charity List

“The Banker”  Best Corporate Image Award for 2009

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Report of Auditor

79

羅兵咸永道會計師事務所

PricewaterhouseCoopers

22nd Floor, Prince’s Building
Central, Hong Kong
Telephone : (852) 2289 8888
Facsimile  : (852) 2810 9888
www.pwchk.com

Independent Auditor’s Report
To the shareholders of China Life Insurance Company Limited
(incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability) 

We  have  audited  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited  (the  “Company”) 
and its subsidiaries (together, the “Group”) set out on pages 81 to 186, which comprise the consolidated and company 
statement of financial position as of 31 December 2009, and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the 
consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flow for the year then ended, and a 
summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation and the true and fair presentation of these consolidated 
financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the disclosure requirements of 
the  Hong  Kong  Companies  Ordinance.  This  responsibility  includes  designing,  implementing  and  maintaining  internal 
control relevant to the preparation and the true and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error;  selecting  and  applying  appropriate  accounting  policies;  and  making 
accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We conducted 
our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we comply with ethical 
requirements  and  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  as  to  whether  the  financial  statements  are 
free from material misstatement. 

An  audit  involves  performing  procedures  to  obtain  audit  evidence  about  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial 
statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material 
misstatement  of  the  financial  statements,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error.  In  making  those  risk  assessments,  the  auditor 
considers  internal  control  relevant  to  the  entity’s  preparation  and  true  and  fair  presentation  of  the  financial  statements 
in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an 
opinion  on  the  effectiveness  of  the  entity’s  internal  control.  An  audit  also  includes  evaluating  the  appropriateness  of 
accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the 
overall presentation of the financial statements.

We  believe  that  the  audit  evidence  we  have  obtained  is  sufficient  and  appropriate  to  provide  a  basis  for  our  audit 
opinion. 

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

80

Report of Auditor

OPINION
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Company 
and of the Group as of 31 December 2009, and of the Group’s financial performance and cash flows for the year then 
ended  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance 
with the disclosure requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance.

OTHER MATTERS
This report, including the opinion, has been prepared for and only for you, as a body, and for no other purpose. We do 
not assume responsibility towards or accept liability to any other person for the contents of this report.

PricewaterhouseCoopers
Certified Public Accountants

Hong Kong, 7 April 2010

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

81

As at 31 December 2009

ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment 
Investments in associates 
Financial assets
  Held-to-maturity securities 
  Loans 
  Term deposits 
  Statutory deposits-restricted 
  Available-for-sale securities 
  Securities at fair value through income 
  Securities purchased under agreements to resell 
  Accrued investment income 
Premiums receivable 
Reinsurance assets 
Other assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 

As at 31 
December 
2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 
2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January
2008
RMB million

17,467 
8,470 

235,099 
23,081 
344,983 
6,153 
517,499 
9,133 
– 
14,208 
6,818 
832 
6,317 
36,197 

16,720 
7,891 

211,929 
17,926 
228,272 
6,153 
424,939 
14,099 
– 
13,149 
6,433 
940 
4,957 
34,085 

15,506
6,449

195,703
7,144
168,594
5,773
417,515
25,110
5,053
9,857
6,218
1,111
4,990
25,317

Note 

6 
7 

8.1 
8.2 
8.3 
8.4 
8.5 
8.6 
8.7 
8.8 
10 
11 
12 

Total assets 

1,226,257 

987,493 

894,340

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

82

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at 31 December 2009

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities
Insurance contracts 
Financial liabilities

Investment contracts 

  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Policyholder dividends payable 
Annuity and other insurance balances payable 
Premiums received in advance 
Other liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Current income tax liabilities 
Statutory insurance fund 

Total liabilities 

Shareholders’ equity
Share capital 
Reserves 
Retained earnings 

As at 31 
December 
2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 
2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January
2008
RMB million

Note 

13 

14 
15 

16 
24 

17 

30 
31 

818,164 

662,865 

527,507

67,326 
33,553 
54,587 
5,721 
1,804 
11,978 
16,361 
3,850 
137 

65,063 
11,390 
43,178 
4,980 
1,811 
11,057 
10,344 
1,668 
266 

53,424
100
64,473
4,059
2,201
10,135
22,997
8,312
122

1,013,481 

812,622 

693,330

28,265 
102,787 
80,020 

28,265 
84,447 
61,235 

28,265
111,276
60,593

Total shareholders’ equity 

211,072 

173,947 

200,134

Minority interests 

Total equity 

1,704 

924 

876

212,776 

174,871 

201,010

Total liabilities and equity 

1,226,257 

987,493 

894,340

Approved and authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on 7 April 2010

Yang Chao 

Director 

Wan Feng

Director

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Statement of Financial Position

As at 31 December 2009

83

ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment 
Investments in subsidiaries 
Investments in associates 
Financial assets
  Held-to-maturity securities 
  Loans 
  Term deposits 
  Statutory deposits-restricted 
  Available-for-sale securities 
  Securities at fair value through income 
  Securities purchased under agreements to resell 
  Accrued investment income 
Premiums receivable 
Reinsurance assets 
Other assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 

As at 31 
December 
2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 
2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January
2008
RMB million

16,940 
3,865 
7,278 

235,092 
23,031 
343,483 
5,653 
514,055 
9,113 
– 
14,120 
6,818 
832 
6,236 
35,582 

16,387 
2,785 
7,278 

211,929 
17,876 
228,272 
5,653 
421,684 
14,068 
– 
13,080 
6,433 
940 
4,945 
33,934 

15,162
930
6,071

195,703
7,144
168,594
5,653
416,681
24,844
4,673
9,848
6,218
1,111
4,952
24,808

Note 

6 
34 
7 

8.1 
8.2 
8.3 
8.4 
8.5 
8.6 
8.7 
8.8 
10 
11 
12 

Total assets 

1,222,098 

985,264 

892,392

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

84

Statement of Financial Position

As at 31 December 2009

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities
Insurance contracts 
Financial liabilities

Investment contracts 

  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Policyholder dividends payable 
Annuity and other insurance balances payable 
Premiums received in advance 
Other liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Current income tax liabilities 
Statutory insurance fund 

Total liabilities 

Shareholders’ equity
Share capital 
Reserves 
Retained earnings 

As at 31 
December 
2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 
2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January
2008
RMB million

Note 

13 

14 
15 

16 
24 

17 

30 
31 

818,164 

662,865 

527,507

67,326 
32,810 
54,587 
5,721 
1,804 
11,802 
16,377 
3,849 
137 

65,063 
11,200 
43,178 
4,980 
1,811 
10,937 
10,351 
1,668 
266 

53,424
100
64,473
4,059
2,201
9,980
22,954
8,258
122

1,012,577 

812,319 

693,078

28,265 
102,485 
78,771 

28,265 
84,096 
60,584 

28,265
111,186
59,863

Total shareholders’ equity 

209,521 

172,945 

199,314

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity 

1,222,098 

985,264 

892,392

Approved and authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on 7 April 2010

Yang Chao 

Director 

Wan Feng

Director

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

85

For the year ended 31 December 2009

REVENUES
Gross written premiums 
Less: premiums ceded to reinsurers 

Net written premiums 
Net change in unearned premium reserves 

Net premiums earned 

Investment income 
Net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets 
Net fair value gains/(losses) on assets at fair value 

through income 

Other income 

Total revenues 

BENEFITS, CLAIMS AND EXPENSES
Insurance benefits and claims
  Life insurance death and other benefits 
  Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses 

Increase in insurance contracts liabilities 

Investment contract benefits 
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits 
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating expenses 
Statutory insurance fund 

Total benefits, claims and expenses 

Share of results of associates 
Net profit before income tax expenses 
Income tax expenses 

Net profit 

Attributable to:
  – shareholders of the Company 
  – minority interests 

Note 

2009 
RMB million 

2008
RMB million

275,970 
(158) 

275,812 
(735) 

265,656
(156)

265,500
(323)

275,077 

265,177

38,890 
21,244 

1,449 
2,630 

44,946
(5,964)

(7,194)
3,420

339,290 

300,385

(74,858) 
(7,808) 
(154,372) 
(2,142) 
(14,487) 
(22,936) 
(18,719) 
(2,390) 
(537) 

(89,659)
(7,641)
(134,649)
(1,931)
(1,671)
(24,200)
(16,652)
(3,409)
(558)

(298,249) 

(280,370)

704 
41,745 
(8,709) 

(56)
19,959
(685)

33,036 

19,274

32,881 
155 

19,137
137

18 
19 

20 

21 
21 
21 
22 

7 
23 
24 

Basic and diluted earnings per share 

26 

RMB1.16 

RMB0.68

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

86

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 December 2009

Other comprehensive income/(loss)
Available-for-sale financial assets
  Arising from available-for-sale securities 
  Reclassification adjustment for gains included 

in profit or loss 

Impact from available-for-sale securities on other assets 
  and liabilities 

Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of associates 
Others 
Income tax relating to components of other comprehensive 

Note 

2009 
RMB million 

2008
RMB million

39,470 

(61,622)

(21,040) 

4,878

(3,999) 
(70) 
– 

11,702
291
(3)

income/(loss) 

24 

(3,607) 

11,260

Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year 

10,754 

(33,494)

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year 

43,790 

(14,220)

Attributable to:
  – shareholders of the Company 
  – minority interests 

43,626 
164 

(14,316)
96

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

87

For the year ended 31 December 2009

Attributable to shareholders
of the Company

Share capital 
RMB million 
(Note 30) 

Reserves  
RMB million 
(Note 31)

Retained 
earnings 
RMB million 

Minority
interests 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

As at 1 January 2008 
Net profit 
Other comprehensive loss for the year 

28,265 
– 
– 

111,276 
– 
(33,453) 

60,593 
19,137 
– 

876 
137 
(41) 

201,010
19,274
(33,494)

(33,453) 

19,137 

96 

(14,220)

As at 31 December 2008 

28,265 

84,447 

61,235 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) 

Transactions with owners
Capital contribution 
Appropriation to reserve 
Dividends paid 
Dividends to minority interests 

Total transactions with owners 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

As at 1 January 2009 
Net profit 
Other comprehensive income

for the year 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners
Capital contribution 
Appropriation to reserve 
Dividends paid 
Dividends to minority interest 

Total transactions with owners 

28,265 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
6,624 
– 
– 

– 
(6,624) 
(11,871) 
– 

6,624 

(18,495) 

84,447 
– 

10,745 

61,235 
32,881 

– 

10,745 

32,881 

– 
7,595 
– 
– 

– 
(7,595) 
(6,501) 
– 

45 
– 
– 
(93) 

(48) 

924 

924 
155 

9 

164 

720 
– 
– 
(104) 

45
–
(11,871)
(93)

(11,919)

174,871

174,871
33,036

10,754

43,790

720
–
(6,501)
(104)

7,595 

(14,096) 

616 

(5,885)

As at 31 December 2009 

28,265 

102,787 

80,020 

1,704 

212,776

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

88

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow

For the year ended 31 December

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net profit before income tax expenses: 

Adjustments for:

Investment income 

  Net realised and unrealised (gains)/losses on financial assets 

Insurance contracts 

  Depreciation and amortisation 
  Amortisation of premiums and discounts 
  Loss on foreign exchange and impairments 
Changes in operational assets and liabilities:
  Financial assets at fair value through income 
  Receivables and payables 

Cash generated from operating activities

Income tax paid 
Interest received 
  Dividends received 

2009 
RMB million 

2008
RMB million

41,745 

19,959

(38,890) 
(22,693) 
155,252 
1,560 
10 
28 

6,435 
9,917 

(3,995) 
291 
40 

(44,946)
13,158
135,284
1,363
(156)
907

3,977
4,484

(8,583)
101
529

Net cash inflow from operating activities 

149,700 

126,077

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Sales and maturities:
  Sales of debt securities 
  Maturities of debt securities 
  Sales of equity securities 
  Property, plant and equipment 
Purchases:
  Debt securities 
  Equity securities 
  Property, plant and equipment 
Investment in associate 
Term deposits, net 
Securities purchased under agreements to resell, net 
Interest received 
Dividends received 
Other 

95,197 
25,730 
101,112 
420 

(148,559) 
(149,523) 
(3,261) 
– 
(116,711) 
8 
34,139 
3,159 
(5,462) 

19,594
4,187
59,855
247

(119,989)
(49,480)
(2,950)
(1,200)
(60,095)
5,142
30,378
9,563
(11,162)

Net cash outflow from investing activities 

(163,751) 

(115,910)

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow

For the year ended 31 December

89

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from investment in securities sold under agreements to

repurchase, net 

Interest paid 
Contribution from minority shareholders 
Dividends paid to the Company’s shareholders 
Dividends paid to minority interests 

2009 
RMB million 

2008
RMB million

22,163 
(111) 
720 
(6,501) 
(104) 

11,290
(437)
–
(11,871)
(93)

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities 

16,167 

(1,111)

Foreign currency losses on cash and cash equivalents 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of year 

End of year 

Analysis of balance of cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand 
Short-term bank deposits 

(4) 

2,112 

(288)

8,768

34,085 

25,317

36,197 

34,085

23,640 
12,557 

20,841
13,244

The notes on pages 90 to 186 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

90

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

1  ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited  (the  “Company”)  was  established  in  the  People’s  Republic  of  China 
(“China”  or  “PRC”)  on  30  June  2003  as  a  joint  stock  company  with  limited  liability  as  part  of  a  group 
restructuring  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  (formerly  China  Life  Insurance  Company)  (“CLIC”) 
and its subsidiaries (the “Restructuring”). The Company and its subsidiaries are hereinafter collectively referred to 
as  the  “Group”.  The  Group’s  principal  activity  is  the  writing  of  life  insurance  business,  providing  life,  annuities, 
accident and health insurance products in China.

The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and located in China. The address of its registered office 
is: 16 Chaowai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing, PRC. The Company is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong 
Kong, the New York Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

These consolidated financial statements are presented in millions of Renminbi (“RMB million”) unless otherwise 
stated. These consolidated financial statements have been approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 7 April 
2010.

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out 
below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented.

2.1  First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  Statement  of 

Compliance
The Group prepared these consolidated financial statements in accordance with all applicable International 
Financial  Reporting  Standards  (“IFRS”),  its  amendments  and  interpretations  issued  by  the  International 
Accounting  Standards  Board  (“IASB”).  These  consolidated  financial  statements  also  comply  with  the 
applicable  disclosure  provisions  of  the  Rules  Governing  the  Listing  of  Securities  on  the  Stock  Exchange  of 
Hong Kong and the requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance.

Prior to 2009, as a listing entity on stock exchanges with different filing requirements, the Group prepared 
its  consolidated  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  the  following  generally  accepted  accounting 
principles (“GAAP”):

Stock Exchange 

GAAP

Stock Exchange of Hong Kong 

Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (“HKFRS”)

New York Stock Exchange 

HKFRS with reconciliations to accounting principles generally accepted in
the US (“US GAAP”)

Shanghai Stock Exchange 

China Accounting Standards (“CAS”)

To  improve  efficiency  in  operational  and  financial  reporting  processes  in  compliance  with  the  various 
filing  requirements,  the  Group  adopted  IFRS  in  2009.  These  are  the  Group’s  first  consolidated  financial 
statements  under  IFRS.  In  accordance  with  IFRS  1,  First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial 
Reporting Standards, 31 December 2009 represents the Group’s first IFRS reporting date.

 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

91

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  Statement  of 

Compliance (continued)
As a PRC-incorporated entity, the Group maintains statutory books and records on CAS basis. In previous 
years,  the  Group  carried  out  period-end  journal  entry  adjustments  to  derive  the  consolidated  financial 
statements under HKFRS and the reconciliation to US GAAP. The Group considers CAS to be its Previous 
GAAP when evaluating applicable transitional exemptions that IFRS 1 permits and elected by the Group.

The  Group  applied  all  standards,  amendments  and  interpretations  issued  by  the  IASB  that  were  effective 
as  of  31  December  2009.  In  addition,  the  Group  early  adopted  IAS  24  Related  Party  Disclosures  (Revised 
2009), which was not effective but allowed for early adoption.

The Group is required to determine its IFRS accounting polices and apply them retrospectively to establish 
its opening balance sheet as of 1 January 2008 under IFRS.

The Group has applied the following exemptions as permitted by IFRS 1:

1. 

Property, Plant and Equipment (“PPE”).

As  permitted  by  IFRS  1,  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  stated  at  ‘deemed  cost’,  which  was 
determined based on a revaluation to fair value as of 30 June 2003 when the Company was established 
in  preparation  for  the  Company’s  IPO.  The  re-valued  amount  becomes  deemed  cost  at  the  date  of 
revaluation.  Depreciation  was  applied  from  the  date  of  revaluation  up  to  the  date  of  transition  to 
IFRS.

2. 

Insurance Contracts

As permitted by IFRS 1 and in accordance with the transitional exemption under IFRS 4, the Group 
continues to apply existing accounting policies under CAS to account for its insurance contracts. The 
Group also has the option to make improvements to its policies. In December 2009, the Ministry of 
Finance (“MoF”) issued a new guidance to insurance contract accounting under CAS which modifies 
the  recognition  and  measurement  insurance  contracts  on  a  retrospective  basis.  Before  the  adoption 
of  this  guidance,  as  accepted  by  MoF,  the  Group  accounts  for  insurance  contracts  that  transfer 
“insurance  risk”  in  accordance  with  statutory  requirements  on  actuarial  reserving  methodologies  and 
assumptions  as  promulgated  by  Chinese  Insurance  Regulatory  Commission  (“CIRC”).  Upon  the 
adoption  of  the  guidance,  the  Group  is  required  to  1)  recognize  insurance  premiums/benefits  only 
from  the  contracts  that  transfer  “significant  insurance  risks”;  2)  value  insurance  reserves  based  on 
expected future net cash flows from guaranteed benefits, non-guaranteed benefits, expenses, premiums 
and  other  charges  with  considerations  of  margin  and  discounting  effects.  CIRC  guidance  remains 
applicable for PRC regulatory reporting such as solvency calculation.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

92

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  Statement  of 

Compliance (continued)

2. 

Insurance Contracts (continued)

(1)  The  reconciliations  of  total  assets,  liabilities,  equity  and  net  profit  between  CAS  (before 

adoption of MoF new guidance) and CAS (after adoption of MoF new guidance) are as follows:

As at 31 December 2008

Assets 
RMB million 

Liabilities 
RMB million 

Equity
RMB million

Under CAS (before adoption of
  MoF new guidance) 

990,164 

854,283 

135,881

Insurance contracts 
Tax implication 
Share of insurance associate, net of tax 

16 
(2,661) 
(26) 

(52,004) 
10,343 
– 

52,020
(13,004)
(26)

Under CAS (after adoption of
  MoF new guidance) 

987,493 

812,622 

174,871

As at 1 January 2008

Assets 
RMB million 

Liabilities 
RMB million 

Equity
RMB million

Under CAS (before adoption of
  MoF new guidance) 

894,601 

723,512 

171,089

Insurance contracts 
Tax implication 
Share of insurance associate, net of tax 

(260) 
– 
(1) 

(40,155) 
9,973 
– 

39,895
(9,973)
(1)

Under CAS (after adoption of
  MoF new guidance) 

894,340 

693,330 

201,010

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

93

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  Statement  of 

Compliance (continued)

2. 

Insurance Contracts (continued)

(1)  The  reconciliations  of  total  assets,  liabilities,  equity  and  net  profit  between  CAS  (before 
adoption of MoF new guidance) and CAS (after adoption of MoF new guidance) are as follows: 
(continued)

For the year ended 31 December 2008
Net profit
RMB million

Under CAS (before adoption of MoF new guidance) 

Insurance contracts 
Tax implication 
Share of insurance associate, net of tax 

Under CAS (after adoption of MoF new guidance) 

10,205

12,125
(3,031)
(25)

19,274

Upon  adoption  of  IFRS,  there  are  no  reconciling  differences  between  CAS  (after  adoption  of 
MoF new guidance) and IFRS on the equity as of 1 January 2008, its transition date to IFRS, or 
as of and for the year ended 31 December 2008.

(2)  The reconciliations of equity and net profit between HKFRS and IFRS are as follows:

The  impacts  on  the  Group’s  previously  stated  equity  as  of  31  December  and  1  January  2008 
and the Group’s previous stated net profits under HKFRS as the result of first-time adoption of 
IFRS are as follow:

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

Equity 

Net profit
As at 1  For the year ended
 January 2008  31 December 2008
RMB million
RMB million 

Under HKFRS 

181,573 

206,376 

21,414

Adjustments:
  PPE 

Insurance contracts 

  Tax implication 
  Share of insurance associate, net of tax 

1,239 
(9,881) 
2,154 
(214) 

1,344 
(8,498) 
1,789 
(1) 

(105)
(2,465)
643
(213)

Upon first-time adoption of IFRS 

174,871 

201,010 

19,274

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

94

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  Statement  of 

Compliance (continued)

2. 

Insurance Contracts (continued)

(2)  The  reconciliations  of  equity  and  net  profit  between  HKFRS  and  IFRS  are  as  follows: 

(continued)
(a) 

Property, plant and equipment
Under  HKFRS,  PPE  re-valued  on  30  June  2003  when  the  Company  was  established  are 
stated  at  historic  cost  in  accordance  with  HKFRS  16,  while  under  IFRS,  these  assets  are 
stated at deemed cost as permitted by an exemption under IFRS 1.

(b) 

Insurance contracts
Under  HKFRS,  contracts  issued  by  the  Group  are  classified  as  short-term  insurance 
contracts, long-term traditional insurance contracts, long-term investment type insurance 
contracts,  investment  contracts  with  discretionary  participating  features  (“DPF”)  and 
investment contracts without DPF.

For short-term insurance contracts, premiums/benefits are recognized as revenue/expenses 
and  liabilities  arising  from  these  contracts  including  unearned  premium  reserves  which 
represent  the  portion  of  premiums  written  relating  to  the  unexpired  terms  of  coverage 
and claims and claim adjustment expenses reserves which represent the estimates of future 
payments of reported and unreported claims for losses and related expenses.

For  long-term  traditional  insurance  contracts,  premiums/benefits  are  recognized  as 
revenue/expenses and liabilities arising from these contracts are recognized and measured 
based  on  relevant  valuation  methodologies  and  actuarial  assumptions  as  to  mortality, 
persistency, expenses, withdrawals and investment returns.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

95

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  First-time  Adoption  of  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  Statement  of 

Compliance (continued)

2. 

Insurance Contracts (continued)

(2)  The  reconciliations  of  equity  and  net  profit  between  HKFRS  and  IFRS  are  as  follows: 

(continued)
(b) 

Insurance contracts (continued)
For  long-term  investment  type  insurance  contracts  and  investment  contracts  with 
DPF,  which  are  also  considered  as  insurance  contracts  under  HKFRS  4,  the  liabilities 
are  recognized  as  accumulation  of  deposits  received  less  charges  plus  interests  credited. 
Revenue  from  these  contracts  consist  of  various  charges  including  policy  fee  and  cost  of 
insurance.

For  investment  contracts  without  DPF,  which  are  not  considered  to  be  insurance 
contracts under HKFRS4, the liabilities are accounted for as financial liabilities.

The costs of acquiring new and renewal business are deferred and amortized.

Under  IFRS,  contracts  issued  by  the  Group  are  classified  as  investment  contracts  and 
insurance contracts. Insurance contracts include short-term insurance contracts, long-term 
insurance contracts, etc. 

For  short-term  insurance  contracts,  premiums/benefits  are  recognized  as  revenue/
expenses.  Liabilities  arising  from  these  contracts  including  unearned  premium  reserves 
which  represent  the  portion  of  premiums  written  net  of  certain  acquisition  cost  relating 
to the unexpired terms of coverage. Claims and claim adjustment expenses reserves which 
represent  the  estimates  of  future  payments  of  reported  and  unreported  claims  for  losses 
and associated expenses, with the consideration of applicable margin. 

For long-term insurance contracts, premiums/benefits are recognized as revenue/expenses. 
The reserve of long-term insurance contracts represents the present value of future payouts 
that will be required to fulfil the contractual obligations, taking account of margin. These 
reserves  are  based  on  various  assumptions  at  the  end  of  each  reporting  period,  including 
mortality rates, morbidity rates, lapse rates, discount rate, and expenses assumption.

Revenue from investment contracts is policy fee income and the liabilities are recognized 
as financial liabilities.

The  accounting  policies  for  recognition  and  measurement  of  insurance  contracts, 
investment contracts and their revenue are described in Note 2.9 and Note 2.14.

The  Group  also  modified  its  presentation  in  the  consolidated  statement  of  cash  flow  to 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  IAS  7  Statement  of  Cash  Flows.  Cash  flows  related  to 
investment contracts are now presented as operating and not financing activities.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

96

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.2  Basis of preparation

The  Group  prepared  the  consolidated  financial  statements  under  the  historical  cost  convention,  as 
modified  by  financial  assets  and  financial  liabilities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss,  available-for-sale 
financial  assets,  insurance  contract  liabilities  and  certain  PPE  at  deemed  cost.  The  preparation  of  financial 
statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires 
management  to  exercise  its  judgment  in  the  process  of  applying  the  Company’s  accounting  policies.  The 
areas  involving  a  higher  degree  of  judgment  or  complexity,  or  areas  where  assumptions  and  estimates  are 
significant to the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed in Note 3.

All  amounts  in  the  notes  are  shown  in  million  of  Chinese  Renminbi  (“RMB”),  rounded  to  the  nearest 
million, unless otherwise stated.

New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations pronouncements

The  IASB  issued  the  following  standards,  amendments  and  interpretations  that  are  not  yet  effective.  This 
is  not  intended  to  be  a  complete  list  as  only  those  standards,  interpretations  and  amendments  that  are 
anticipated to have a future impact upon the Group’s financial statements have been discussed.

(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 

IFRS 2 (amendments) ‘Group cash-settled share-based payment transactions’
IFRS 3 (revised) ‘Business combinations’
IFRS  5  (amendment)  ‘Measurement  of  non-current  assets  (or  disposal  Groups)  classified  as  held  for 
sale’
IFRS 9 ‘Financial instruments’
IAS 1 (amendment) ‘Presentation of financial statements’
IAS 27 (revised) ‘Consolidated and separate financial statements’
IAS 32 (amendment) ‘Classification of rights issues’
IAS 38 (amendment) ‘Intangible Assets’
IFRIC 17 ‘Distribution of non-cash assets to owners’
IFRIC 18 ‘Transfers of assets from customers’

The  Group  is  in  the  process  of  making  an  assessment  of  the  impact  of  the  new  accounting  standards, 
amendments and interpretations.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

97

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.3  Consolidation

Subsidiaries

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  financial  statements  of  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries 
made up to 31 December. Subsidiaries are those entities in which the Company controls more than one half 
of the voting power; has the power to govern the financial and operating policies; to appoint or remove the 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors;  or  to  cast  the  majority  of  votes  at  the  meetings  of  the 
Board of Directors.

Inter-company  transactions  and  balances  within  the  Group  are  eliminated  on  consolidation.  Minority 
interests represents the interest of outside shareholders in the operating results and net assets of subsidiaries.

The  results  of  subsidiaries  acquired  or  disposed  of  during  the  year  are  included  in  the  net  profit  from  the 
date  of  acquisition  or  up  to  the  date  of  disposal,  as  appropriate.  The  gains  or  losses  on  the  disposal  of  a 
subsidiary represents the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the Group’s share of its net assets 
together with any goodwill which was not previously charged or recognized in the net profit.

In  the  company  only  statement  of  financial  position  the  investments  in  subsidiaries  is  stated  at  cost  less 
provision for impairment losses. The results of subsidiaries are accounted for by the Company on the basis 
of dividends received and receivable.

Associates

Associates  are  all  entities  over  which  the  Group  has  significant  influence  but  not  control,  generally 
accompanying  a  shareholding  of  between  20%  and  50%  of  the  voting  rights.  Investments  in  associates 
are  accounted  for  by  the  equity  method  of  accounting  and  are  initially  recognized  at  cost.  The  Group’s 
investment  in  associates  includes  goodwill  (net  of  any  accumulated  impairment  loss)  identified  on 
acquisition.

The Group’s share of its associates’ post-acquisition profits or losses is recognized in the net profit, and its 
share  of  post-acquisition  movements  in  reserves  is  recognized  in  reserves.  The  cumulative  post-acquisition 
movements  are  adjusted  against  the  carrying  amount  of  the  investment.  When  the  Group’s  share  of  losses 
in an associate equals or exceeds its interest in the associate, including any other unsecured receivables, the 
Group does not recognize further losses unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the 
associate.

Intragroup  gains  on  transactions  between  the  Group  and  its  associates  are  eliminated  to  the  extent  of  the 
Group’s  interest  in  the  associates.  Intragroup  losses  are  also  eliminated  unless  the  transaction  provides 
evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. Associates’ accounting policies have been changed where 
necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

98

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.3  Consolidation (continued)

Associates (continued)

Goodwill  represents  the  excess  of  the  cost  of  an  acquisition  over  the  fair  value  of  the  Group’s  share  of  the 
net identifiable assets of acquired associate at the date of acquisition. Goodwill on acquisitions of associates 
is included in investments in associates and is tested annually for impairment as part of the overall balance. 
Impairment  losses  on  goodwill  are  not  reversed.  Gains  and  losses  on  the  disposal  of  an  entity  include  the 
carrying amount of goodwill relating to the entity sold.

In  the  company  only  statement  of  financial  position  the  investments  in  associates  is  stated  at  cost  less 
provision for impairment losses. The results of associates are accounted for by the Company on the basis of 
dividends received and receivable.

2.4  Segment reporting

The  Group’s  operating  Segments  are  presented  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the  internal  management 
reporting  provided  to  the  president  office  for  deciding  how  to  allocate  resources  and  for  assessing 
performance.

Operating segment refers to the segment within the Group that satisfies following conditions: i) the segment 
generates  income  and  incurs  costs  from  daily  operating  activities;  ii)  management  evaluate  the  operating 
results of the segment to make resource allocation decision and to evaluate the business performance; iii) the 
Group  can  obtain  relevant  financial  information  of  the  segment,  including  financial  condition,  operating 
results, cash flow and other financial performance indicators.

2.5  Foreign currency translation

The  functional  currencies  of  the  Group’s  operations  are  RMB.  Transactions  in  foreign  currencies  are 
translated  at  exchange  rates  ruling  at  the  transaction  dates.  Monetary  assets  and  liabilities  denominated  in 
foreign  currencies  are  translated  at  rates  of  exchange  ruling  at  the  end  of  the  reporting  period.  Exchange 
differences arising in these cases are recognized in the net profit.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

99

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.6  Property, plant and equipment

Property,  plant  and  equipment  are  stated  at  historical  costs  less  accumulated  depreciations  and  any 
accumulated impairment losses, except that acquired prior to 30 June 2003, which are stated at deemed cost 
less accumulated depreciations and any accumulated impairment losses.

The  historical  costs  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  comprise  its  purchase  price,  including  import  duties 
and  non-refundable  purchase  taxes  and  any  directly  attributable  costs  of  bringing  the  asset  to  its  working 
condition  and  location  for  its  intended  use.  The  cost  of  a  major  renovation  is  included  in  the  carrying 
amount  of  the  asset  when  it  is  probable  that  future  economic  benefits  in  excess  of  the  originally  assessed 
standard of performance of the existing asset will flow to the Group.

Assets  under  construction  represent  buildings  and  fixtures  under  construction  and  are  stated  at  costs  or 
deemed  costs.  Costs  include  construction  and  acquisition  costs.  No  provision  for  depreciation  is  made  on 
assets under construction until such time as the relevant assets are completed and ready for use.

Depreciation

Depreciation  is  computed  on  a  straight-line  basis  to  write  down  the  cost  of  each  asset  to  its  residual  value 
over its estimated useful life as follows:

Buildings 
Office equipment, furniture and fixtures 
Motor vehicles 
Leasehold improvements 

Estimated useful life

15 to 35 years
5 to 10 years
4 to 8 years
Over  the  lesser  of  the  remaining  term  of  the  lease  or 

the useful life

The  useful  life  and  depreciation  method  is  reviewed  periodically  to  ensure  that  the  method  and  period  of 
depreciation are consistent with the expected pattern of economic benefits from items of property, plant and 
equipment.

Impairment and gains or losses on sales

Property,  plant  and  equipment  are  reviewed  for  impairment  losses  whenever  events  or  changes  in 
circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  may  not  be  recoverable.  An  impairment  loss  is  recognized 
in the net profit for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, 
which is the higher of an asset’s net selling price and value in use.

The  gain  or  loss  on  disposal  of  a  property,  plant  and  equipment  is  the  difference  between  the  net  sales 
proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant asset, and is recognized in the net profit.

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

100

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.7  Financial assets

2.7.a  Classification

The  Group  classifies  its  investments  in  securities  into  the  following  categories:  held-to-maturity  securities, 
securities  at  fair  value  through  income  and  available-for-sale  securities.  The  classification  depends  on 
the  purpose  for  which  the  investments  were  acquired.  Management  determines  the  classification  of  its 
investments at initial recognition and depend on the purpose for which the securities are acquired. Financial 
assets other than investment in securities are loans and receivables which are non-derivative financial assets 
with  fixed  or  determinable  payments  that  are  not  quoted  in  an  active  market  other  than  those  that  the 
Group  intends  to  sell  in  the  short  term  or  available  for  sale.  Loans  and  receivables  mainly  comprise  term 
deposits,  loans,  securities  purchased  under  agreements  to  resell,  accrued  investment  income  and  receivables 
arising from the insurance contracts as presented separately in the statement of financial position.

(i)  Held-to-maturity securities

Held-to-maturity  securities  are  non-derivative  financial  assets  with  fixed  or  determinable  payments 
and fixed maturities other than those that meet the definition of loans and receivables that the Group 
has the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity.

(ii) 

Securities at fair value through income

This  category  has  two  sub-categories:  securities  held  for  trading  and  those  designated  at  fair  value 
through income at inception. A financial asset is classified as held for trading at inception if acquired 
principally  for  the  purpose  of  selling  in  the  short  term  or  if  it  forms  part  of  a  portfolio  of  financial 
assets in which there is evidence of short term profit-taking. Any other additional financial assets may 
be designated at fair value through income at inception by the Group.

(iii)  Available-for-sale securities

Available-for-sale  securities  are  non-derivative  financial  assets  that  are  either  designated  in  this 
category or not classified in either of the other categories.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

101

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.7  Financial assets (continued)

2.7.b Recognition and measurement

Purchases and sales of investments are recognized on trade date, on which the Group commits to purchase or 
sell assets. Investments are initially recognized at fair value plus, in the case of all financial assets not carried 
at fair value through income, transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition. Investments 
are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the investments have expired or when they have 
been transferred and the Group has also transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership.

Available-for-sale  securities  and  securities  at  fair  value  through  income  are  carried  at  fair  value.  Held-to-
maturity  securities  are  carried  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest  method.  Investment  gains  and 
losses  on  sales  of  securities  are  determined  principally  by  specific  identification.  Realised  and  unrealised 
gains  and  losses  arising  from  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  the  “securities  at  fair  value  through  income” 
category,  and  the  change  of  available-for-sale  debt  securities’  fair  value  due  to  foreign  exchange  impact  on 
the  amortized  cost  are  included  in  the  net  profit  in  the  period  in  which  they  arise.  Unrealised  gains  and 
losses  arising  from  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  financial  assets  classified  as  available-for-sale  securities  are 
recognized  in  equity.  When  securities  classified  as  available-for-sale  securities  are  sold  or  impaired,  the 
accumulated  fair  value  adjustments  are  included  in  the  net  profit  as  realised  gains  or  losses  on  financial 
assets.

The  fair  values  of  quoted  investments  are  based  on  current  bid  prices.  If  the  market  for  a  financial  asset  is 
not  active,  the  Group  establishes  fair  value  by  using  valuation  techniques.  These  include  the  use  of  recent 
arm’s  length  transactions,  reference  to  other  instruments  that  are  substantially  the  same,  discounted  cash 
flow analysis and option pricing models.

2.7.c  Term deposits

Term  deposits  include  both  traditional  bank  deposits  and  structured  deposits.  Term  deposits  have  fixed 
maturity dates and are stated at amortised cost.

2.7.d Loans

Loans originated by the Group are carried at amortised cost, net of provision for impairment in value.

2.7.e  Securities purchased under agreements to resell

The  Group  enters  into  purchases  of  securities  under  agreements  to  resell  substantially  identical  securities. 
These  agreements  are  classified  as  secured  loans  and  are  recorded  at  amortised  cost,  i.e.  their  cost  plus 
accrued  interest  at  the  end  of  the  reporting  period,  which  approximates  fair  value.  The  amounts  advanced 
under these agreements are reflected as assets in the consolidated statement of financial position. The Group 
does not take physical possession of securities purchased under agreements to resell. Sales or transfers of the 
securities  are  not  permitted  by  the  respective  clearing  house  on  which  they  are  registered  while  the  loan  is 
outstanding.  In  the  event  of  default  by  the  counterparty  to  repay  the  loan,  the  Group  has  the  right  to  the 
underlying securities held by the clearing house.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

102

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.7  Financial assets (continued)

2.7.f  Impairment of financial assets other than at fair value through income

Financial assets other than those accounted for as at fair value through income are adjusted for impairments, 
where  there  are  declines  in  value  that  are  considered  to  be  an  impairment.  In  evaluating  whether  a  decline 
in  value  is  an  impairment  for  debt  securities  and  equity  securities,  the  Group  considers  several  factors 
including, but not limited to.

(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 

Significant financial difficulty of the issuer or debtor;
A breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in payments;
It becomes probable that the issuer or debtor will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation;
The disappearance of an active market for that financial asset because of financial difficulties;

In  evaluating  whether  a  decline  in  value  is  impairment  for  equity  securities,  the  Group  also  considers  the 
extent or the duration of the decline. When the decline in value is considered impairment, Held-to-maturity 
debt  securities  are  written  down  to  their  present  value  of  estimated  future  cash  flows  discounted  at  the 
securities  effective  interest  rates;  Available-for-sale  debt  securities  and  equity  securities  are  written  down  to 
their fair value, and the change is recorded in “Net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets” in the period 
the  impairment  is  recognized.  The  impairment  loss  is  reversed  through  the  net  profit  if  in  a  subsequent 
period  the  fair  value  of  a  debt  security  increases  and  the  increase  can  be  objectively  related  to  an  event 
occurring after the impairment loss was recognized through the net profit. The impairment losses recognised 
in net profit on equity instruments are not reversed.

2.8  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash amounts represent cash on hand and demand deposits. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid 
investments with original maturities of 90 days or less, whose carrying value approximates fair value.

2.9  Insurance contracts and investment contracts

2.9.1 Classification

The Group issues contracts that transfer insurance risk or financial risk or both. The contracts issued by the 
Group are classified as insurance contracts and investment contacts. Insurance contracts are those contracts 
that  transfer  significant  insurance  risk.  They  may  also  transfer  financial  risk.  Investment  contracts  are 
those  contracts  that  transfer  financial  risk  without  significant  insurance  risk.  A  number  of  insurance  and 
investment contracts contain a DPF. This feature entitles the policyholders to receive additional benefits or 
bonuses that are, at least in part, discretionary to the Group.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

103

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.9  Insurance contracts and investment contracts (continued)

2.9.2 Insurance contracts

2.9.2.a Recognition and measurement

(i) 

Short-term insurance contracts

Premiums  from  the  sale  of  short  duration  accident  and  health  insurance  products  are  recorded  when 
written  and  are  accreted  to  earnings  on  a  pro-rata  basis  over  the  term  of  the  related  policy  coverage. 
Claims  and  claim  adjustment  expenses  are  charged  to  the  net  profit  as  incurred.  Reserves  for  short 
duration  insurance  products  consist  of  unearned  premium  reserve  and  claims  and  claim  adjustment 
expenses reserve.

The  unearned  premium  reserve  represents  the  portion  of  the  premiums  written  net  of  certain 
acquisition costs relating to the unexpired terms of coverage.

Reserves for claims and claim adjustment expenses consist of the reserves for reported and unreported 
claims and reserves for claim expenses with respect to insured events. In developing these reserves, the 
Group considered the nature and distribution of the risks, claims cost development, and experiences in 
deriving the best estimated amount and the applicable margin. The methods used for reported claims 
include  average  cost  per  claim  method,  chain  ladder  method,  etc.  The  Group  calculated  the  reserves 
for claim expenses based on the best estimates of the future payments for claim expenses.

(ii) 

Long-term insurance contracts

Long-term  insurance  contracts  include  whole  life  and  term  life  insurance,  endowment  insurance  and 
annuities policies with significant life contingency risk. Premiums are recognized as revenue when due 
from policyholders.

The  reserve  of  long-term  insurance  contracts  represents  the  present  value  of  future  payouts  that  will 
be  required  to  fulfil  the  contractual  obligations,  taking  account  of  margin.  The  long-term  insurance 
contracts  liabilities  are  calculated  using  various  assumptions,  including  assumptions  on  mortality 
rates, morbidity rates, lapse rates, discount rate, and expenses assumption, and based on the following 
principles:

(a)  The  reserves  for  long-term  insurance  contracts  are  recognised  on  the  basis  of  best  estimates  of 
future  payouts  that  will  be  required  to  fulfil  the  contractual  obligations.  These  expenses  refer 
to  the  expected  net  future  cash  outflows  for  the  insurance  contracts,  which  is  the  difference 
between  the  expected  future  cash  outflows  and  the  expected  future  cash  inflows.  The  expected 
future  cash  inflows  include  cash  inflows  arising  from  the  undertaking  of  insurance  obligations. 
The  expected  future  cash  outflows  are  cash  outflows  incurred  to  fulfil  contractual  obligations, 
consisting of the following: 

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

104

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.9  Insurance contracts and investment contracts (continued)

2.9.2 Insurance contracts (continued)

2.9.2.a Recognition and measurement (continued)

(ii) 

Long-term insurance contracts (continued)

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

The  guaranteed  benefits  based  on  contractual  terms,  including  payments  for  deaths, 
disabilities, diseases, survivals, maturities and surrenders.

Additional non-guaranteed benefits, such as policyholder dividends.

Expenses  incurred  to  manage  insurance  contracts  or  to  process  claims,  including 
administration and claim settlement expenses, etc.

Various assumptions for the estimates will be reviewed at the end of each reporting period and 
any changes will be recognized in the net profit.

(b)  Margin  has  been  taken  into  consideration  while  computing  the  reserve  of  insurance  contracts, 
measured separately and recognized in the net profit in each period over the life of the contracts. 
At the inception of the contracts, the Group doesn’t recognize Day 1 gain, whereas on the other 
hand, Day 1 loss is recognized as incurred.

Margin  comprises  of  risk  margin  and  residual  margin.  Risk  margin  is  the  reserve  accrued  to 
compensate  for  the  uncertain  amount  and  timing  of  future  cash  flows.  At  the  inception  of 
the  contract,  the  residual  margin  is  calculated  net  of  certain  acquisition  cost  by  the  Group 
for  not  recognizing  the  Day  1  gain.  The  residual  margin  will  be  amortized  over  the  life  of  the 
contracts.  The  subsequent  measurement  of  residual  margin  is  independent  from  best  estimate 
of future discounted cash flows and risk margin. The assumption changes have no effect on the 
subsequent measurement of residual margin.

(c)  The  Group  has  considered  the  impact  of  time  value  on  the  reserve  calculation  for  insurance 

contracts.

(iii)  Universal life contracts and unit-linked contracts

Universal life contracts and unit-linked contracts are unbundled into the following components:

(cid:129) 
(cid:129) 

Insurance components
Non-insurance components

The  insurance  components  are  accounted  for  as  insurance  contracts;  and  the  non-insurance 
components are accounted for as investment contracts (note 2.9.3), which are stated in the investment 
contracts liabilities.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

105

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.9  Insurance contracts and investment contracts (continued)

2.9.2 Insurance contracts (continued)

2.9.2.b Liability adequacy test

The  Group  evaluates  the  adequacy  of  insurance  contracts  reserves  using  the  available  information  at  the 
end of each reporting period. If the reserves are inadequate, the insurance contracts reserves will be adjusted 
accordingly.

2.9.2.c Reinsurance contracts held

Contracts  with  reinsurers  under  which  the  Group  is  compensated  for  losses  on  one  or  more  contracts 
issued  by  the  Group  and  that  meet  the  classification  requirements  for  insurance  contracts  are  classified  as 
reinsurance  contracts  held.  Contracts  with  reinsurers  that  do  not  meet  these  classification  requirements  are 
classified as financial assets. Insurance contracts entered into by the Group under which the contract holder 
is another insurer (inwards reinsurance) are included with insurance contracts.

The  benefits  to  which  the  Group  is  entitled  under  its  reinsurance  contracts  held  are  recognized  as 
reinsurance  assets.  Amounts  recoverable  from  or  due  to  reinsurers  are  measured  consistently  with  the 
amounts  associated  with  the  reinsured  insurance  contracts  and  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  each 
reinsurance  contract.  Reinsurance  liabilities  are  primarily  premiums  payable  for  reinsurance  contracts  and 
are recognized as an expense when due.

The  Group  assesses  its  reinsurance  assets  for  impairment  as  at  the  end  of  reporting  period.  If  there  is 
objective  evidence  that  the  reinsurance  asset  is  impaired,  the  Group  reduces  the  carrying  amount  of  the 
reinsurance asset to its recoverable amount and recognizes that impairment loss in the net profit.

2.9.3  Investment contracts

Revenue  from  investment  contracts  with  or  without  DPF  is  policy  fee  income,  which  consists  of  various 
charges  (policy  fees,  handling  fees,  management  fees,  etc.)  during  the  period.  Excess  charges  over  certain 
acquisition cost are deferred as unearned revenue and amortized over the expected life of the contracts.

Except for unit-linked contracts, of which the liabilities are carried at fair value, the liabilities of investment 
contracts are carried at amortised cost.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

106

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.9  Insurance contracts and investment contracts (continued)

2.9.4  DPF in long-term insurance contracts and investment contracts

DPF  is  contained  in  certain  long-term  insurance  contracts  and  investment  contracts.  These  contracts  are 
collectively called participating contracts. The Group is obligated to pay to the policyholders of participating 
contracts as a group at 70% of accumulated surplus available, or at the rate specified in the contracts when 
higher.  The  amount  and  timing  of  distribution  to  individual  policyholders  of  participating  contracts  are 
subject  to  future  declarations  by  the  Group.  The  accumulated  surplus  available  mainly  arises  from  net 
investment  income,  gains  and  losses  arising  from  the  assets  supporting  these  contracts.  To  the  extent 
unrealised  gains  or  losses  from  available-for-sale  securities  affect  the  surplus  owed  to  policyholders,  shadow 
adjustments  are  recognized  in  other  comprehensive  income.  If  the  surplus  owed  to  policyholders  has  not 
been declared and paid, it is included in the policyholder dividends payable.

2.10 Securities sold with agreements to repurchase

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are classified as secured borrowings, generally mature 
within 180 days from the transaction date. The Group may be required to provide additional collateral based 
on the fair value of the underlying securities. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are recorded at 
amortised cost, i.e. their cost plus accrued interest at the end of the reporting period. It is the Group’s policy 
to maintain effective control over securities sold under agreements to repurchase which includes maintaining 
physical possession of the securities. Accordingly, such securities continue to be carried on the consolidated 
statement of financial position.

2.11 Derivative instruments

Derivatives  are  initially  recognized  at  fair  value  on  the  date  on  which  a  derivative  contract  is  entered  into 
and  are  subsequently  re-measured  at  their  fair  value.  The  resulting  gain  or  loss  of  derivative  financial 
instruments is recognized in net profit. Fair values are obtained from quoted market prices in active markets, 
including  recent  market  transactions  and  valuation  techniques,  including  discounted  cash  flow  models 
and  options  pricing  models,  as  appropriate.  The  best  evidence  of  the  fair  value  of  a  derivative  at  initial 
recognition is the transaction price (i.e. the fair value of the consideration given or received) unless the fair 
value  of  that  instrument  is  evidenced  by  comparison  with  other  observable  current  market  transactions  in 
the  same  instrument  (i.e.  without  modification  or  repackaging)  or  based  on  a  valuation  technique  whose 
variables  include  only  data  from  observable  markets.  All  derivatives  are  carried  as  assets  when  fair  value  is 
positive and as liabilities when fair value is negative.

Embedded  derivatives  that  are  not  closely  related  to  their  host  contracts  and  meet  the  definition  of  a 
derivative  are  separated  and  fair  valued  through  profit  or  loss.  The  Group  does  not  separately  measure 
embedded  derivatives  that  meet  the  definition  of  an  insurance  contract  or  embedded  options  to  surrender 
insurance contracts for a fixed amount (or an amount based on a fixed amount and an interest rate). All the 
other embedded derivatives held by the Group are deemed either to be closely related to the host contracts 
or measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in the net profit.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

107

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.12 Employee benefits

Pension benefits

The  full-time  employees  of  the  Group  are  covered  by  various  government-sponsored  pension  plans  under 
which  the  employees  are  entitled  to  a  monthly  pension  based  on  certain  formulas.  These  government 
agencies  are  responsible  for  the  pension  liability  to  these  retired  employees.  The  Group  contributes  on  a 
monthly  basis  to  these  pension  plans.  In  addition  to  the  government-sponsored  pension  plans,  the  Group 
established an employee annuity plan pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, whereby the 
Group are required to contribute to the schemes at fixed rates of the employees’ salary costs. Contributions 
to these plans are expensed as incurred. Under these plans, the Group has no legal or constructive obligation 
for retirement benefit beyond the contributions made.

Housing benefits

All  full-time  employees  of  the  Group  are  entitled  to  participate  in  various  government-sponsored  housing 
funds. The Group contributes on a monthly basis to these funds based on certain percentages of the salaries 
of  the  employees.  The  Group’s  liability  in  respect  of  these  funds  is  limited  to  the  contributions  payable  in 
each year.

Stock appreciation rights

Compensation  under  the  stock  appreciation  rights  is  measured  based  on  the  fair  value  of  the  liabilities 
incurred and is expensed over the vesting period. Valuation techniques including option pricing models are 
used  to  estimate  fair  value  of  relevant  liabilities.  The  liability  is  re-measured  at  the  end  of  each  reporting 
period  to  its  fair  value  until  settlement  with  all  changes  included  in  administrative  expenses  in  the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The related liability is included in other liabilities.

2.13 Share capital

Shares are classified as equity when there is no obligation to transfer cash or other assets. Incremental costs 
directly attributable to the issue of equity instruments are shown in equity as a deduction from the proceeds.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

108

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.14 Revenue recognition

Turnover of the Group represents the total revenues.

Premiums

Premiums from long-term insurance contracts are recognized as revenue when due from the policyholders.

Premiums from the sale of short duration accident and health insurance products are recorded when written 
and  are  accreted  to  earnings  on  a  pro-rata  basis  over  the  term  of  the  related  policy  coverage.  Contracts  for 
which the period of risk differs significantly from the contract period recognize premiums over the period of 
risk in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided.

Policy fee income

Revenue  from  investment  contracts  is  recognized  as  policy  fee  income,  which  consists  of  various  charges 
(policy fees, handling fees, management fees, etc.) over period service is provided. Excess charges over certain 
acquisition  costs  are  deferred  as  unearned  revenue  and  amortized  over  the  expected  life  of  the  contracts. 
Policy fee income is presented as other income.

Investment income

Investment  income  is  comprised  of  interest  income  from  term  deposits,  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  debt 
securities, securities purchased under agreements to resell, loans, and dividend income from equity securities. 
Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis using the effective interest rate method. Dividend income is 
recognized when the right to receive dividend payment is established.

2.15 Current and deferred income taxation

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognized in the net profit, except 
to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in other comprehensive income. In this case, the tax 
is also recognized in other comprehensive income.

The  current  income  tax  charge  is  calculated  on  the  basis  of  the  tax  laws  enacted  or  substantively  enacted 
at  the  end  of  the  reporting  period  in  the  jurisdictions  where  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  operate  and 
generate  taxable  income.  Management  periodically  evaluates  positions  taken  in  tax  returns  with  respect  to 
situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation.

Deferred  income  tax  is  recognized,  using  the  liability  method,  on  temporary  differences  arising  between 
the  tax  bases  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  carrying  amounts  in  the  financial  statements.  Substantively 
enacted tax rates are used in the determination of deferred income tax.

Deferred income tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will 
be available against which the temporary differences can be recognized.

Deferred  income  tax  is  provided  on  temporary  differences  arising  on  investments  in  subsidiaries  and 
associates  except  where  the  timing  of  the  reversal  of  the  temporary  difference  can  be  controlled  and  it  is 
probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

109

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.16 Operating leases

Leases where substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of assets remain with the leasing company 
are  accounted  for  as  operating  leases.  Payments  under  operating  leases  are  charged  to  the  net  profit  on  a 
straight-line basis over the lease periods.

2.17 Contingencies

A  contingent  liability  is  a  possible  obligation  that  arises  from  past  events  and  whose  existence  will  only  be 
confirmed  by  the  occurrence  or  non-occurrence  of  one  or  more  uncertain  future  events  not  wholly  within 
the control of the Group. It can also be a present obligation arising from past events that is not recognized 
because it is not probable that outflow of economic resources will be required or the amount of obligation 
cannot be measured reliably.

A contingent liability is not recognized in the statement of financial position but is disclosed in the notes to 
the financial statements. When a change in the probability of an outflow occurs so that outflow is probable 
and can be reliably measured, it will then be recognized as a provision.

2.18 Dividend distribution

Dividend  distribution  to  the  Company’s  shareholders  is  recognized  as  a  liability  in  the  Group’s  financial 
statements in the year in which the dividends are approved by the Company’s shareholders.

3  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS IN APPLYING 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The  Group  makes  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities.  Estimates 
and  judgments  are  continually  evaluated  and  based  on  historical  experience  and  other  factors,  including 
expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

3.1  Estimate  of  future  benefit  payments  and  premiums  arising  from  long-term  insurance 

contracts
The  determination  of  the  liabilities  under  long-term  insurance  contracts  is  based  on  estimates  of  future 
benefit payments, premiums and relevant expenses made by the Group, and the margin. Assumptions about 
mortality  rates,  morbidity  rates,  lapse  rates,  discount  rate,  and  expenses  assumption  are  made  based  on  the 
most recent historical analysis and current and future economic conditions. The liability uncertainty arising 
from uncertain future benefits payments, premiums and relevant expenses, is reflected in the risk margin.

The residual margin relating to the long-term insurance contracts is amortized over the expected life of the 
contracts, based on the assumptions (mortality rates, morbidity rates, lapse rates, discount rate, and expenses 
assumption) that are determined at inception of the contracts and remain unchanged for the duration of the 
contracts.

The various assumptions are described in Note 13.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

110

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

3  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS IN APPLYING 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

3.2  Investments

The Group’s principal investments are debt securities, equity securities, term deposits and loans. The critical 
estimates  and  judgments  are  those  associated  with  the  recognition  of  impairment  and  the  determination  of 
fair value.

The Group considers a wide range of factors in the impairment assessment as described in Note 2.7.f.

Fair  value  is  defined  as  the  amount  at  which  the  financial  assets  and  liabilities  could  be  exchanged  in  a 
current  transaction  between  knowledgeable  willing  parties  in  an  arm’s  length  transaction,  rather  than  in  a 
forced or liquidation sale. The methods and assumptions used by the Group in estimating the fair value of 
the financial assets are:

– 

– 

– 

– 

Debt  securities:  fair  values  are  generally  based  upon  current  bid  prices.  Where  current  bid  prices  are 
not  readily  available,  fair  values  are  estimated  using  either  prices  observed  in  recent  transactions, 
values obtained from current bid prices of comparable investments and valuation techniques when the 
market is not active.

Equity  securities:  fair  values  are  generally  based  upon  current  bid  prices.  Where  current  bid  prices 
are  not  readily  available,  fair  values  are  estimated  using  either  prices  observed  in  recent  transactions 
or commonly used market pricing model. Equity securities, for which fair values cannot be measured 
reliably, are recognized at cost less impairment.

Term  deposits  (excluding  structured  deposits),  loans  and  securities  purchased  or  sold  under 
agreements  to  resell  or  repurchase:  the  carrying  amounts  of  these  assets  in  the  statement  of  financial 
position approximate fair values.

Structured  deposits:  the  market  for  structured  deposits  is  not  active  and  the  Group  establishes  fair 
value  by  using  discounted  cash  flow  analysis  and  option  pricing  models  as  the  valuation  technique. 
The  Group  uses  the  US$  swap  rate  (the  benchmark  rate)  to  determine  the  fair  value  of  financial 
instruments.

3.3  Income tax

The Group is subjected to income tax in various localities. During the normal course of business, there are 
great uncertainties for the tax treatment on many transactions on the business matters. The Group needs to 
exercise significant judgment when determining the income tax expenses. If the final settlement result of the 
tax matters are different from the amount booked, these differences will impact the final income tax expense 
and deferred tax for the period.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

111

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk  management  is  carried  out  by  the  Risk  Management  Committee  under  policies  approved  by  the  Board  of 
Directors.

The  Group  issues  contracts  that  transfer  insurance  risk  or  financial  risk  or  both.  This  section  summarises  these 
risks and the way the Group manages them.

4.1  Insurance risk

4.1.1 Types of Insurance risks

The  risk  under  any  one  insurance  contract  is  the  possibility  that  an  insured  event  occurs  and  there  is 
uncertainty about the amount of the resulting claim. By the very nature of an insurance contract, this risk is 
random and therefore unpredictable. For a portfolio of insurance contracts where the theory of probability 
is applied to pricing and provisioning, the principal risk that the Group faces under its insurance contracts 
is  that  the  actual  claims  and  benefit  payments  exceed  the  carrying  amount  of  the  insurance  liabilities.  This 
occurs  when  the  frequency  or  severity  of  claims  and  benefits  exceeds  the  estimates.  Insurance  events  are 
random and the actual number of claims and the amount of benefits paid will vary each year from estimates 
established using statistical techniques.

Experience  shows  that  the  larger  the  portfolio  of  similar  insurance  contracts,  the  smaller  the  relative 
variability  about  the  expected  outcome  will  be.  In  addition,  a  more  diversified  portfolio  is  less  likely  to  be 
affected across the board by a change in any subset of the portfolio. The Group has developed its insurance 
underwriting strategy to diversify the type of insurance risks accepted and within each of these categories to 
achieve a sufficiently large population of risks to reduce the variability of the expected outcome. The Group 
manages insurance risk through underwriting strategy, reinsurance arrangements and claims handling.

The  Group  manages  insurance  risks  through  two  types  of  reinsurance  agreements,  ceding  on  a  quota  share 
basis  or  a  surplus  basis,  to  cover  insurance  liability  risk.  The  products  reinsured  include:  life  insurance, 
accident  and  health  insurance  or  death,  disability,  accident,  illness  and  assistance  in  terms  of  product 
category or function respectively. These reinsurances agreements spread insured risk to a certain extent and 
reduce  the  effect  of  potential  losses  to  the  Group.  However,  the  Group’s  direct  insurance  liabilities  to  the 
policyholder are not eliminated because of credit risk associated with the failure of reinsurance companies to 
fulfil their responsibilities.

4.1.2 Concentration of insurance risks

The  Group  offers  life  insurance,  annuity,  accident  and  health  insurance  products.  All  operations  of  the 
Group  are  located  in  the  PRC.  There  are  no  significant  differences  among  the  regions  where  the  Group 
underwrites insurance contracts.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

112

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.2 Concentration of insurance risks (continued)

The table below presents the Group’s major products of long-term insurance contracts:

Product name 

2009 

2008

RMB million 

% 

RMB million 

%

Premiums
Hong Feng Endowment (a) 
Hong Fu Endowment (b) 
Kang Ning Whole Life (c) 
Hong Tai Endowment (d) 
Hong Rui Endowment (e) 
Others (f) 

59,229 
54,919 
30,151 
11,300 
674 
105,632 

22.6% 
21.0% 
11.5% 
4.3% 
0.3% 
40.3% 

105,343 
8,169 
31,806 
13,999 
2,221 
90,932 

41.7%
3.2%
12.6%
5.5%
0.9%
36.1%

Total 

261,905 

100.0% 

252,470 

100.0%

Insurance benefits
Hong Feng Endowment (a) 
Hong Fu Endowment (b) 
Kang Ning Whole Life (c) 
Hong Tai Endowment (d) 
Hong Rui Endowment (e) 
Others (f) 

464 
36 
2,772 
29,173 
11,299 
7,812 

0.9% 
0.1% 
5.4% 
56.6% 
21.9% 
15.1% 

290 
4 
2,466 
7,343 
26,168 
27,920 

0.5%
0.0%
3.8%
11.4%
40.8%
43.5%

Total 

51,556 

100.0% 

64,191 

100.0%

Liabilities of long-term
insurance contracts
Hong Feng Endowment (a) 
Hong Fu Endowment (b) 
Kang Ning Whole Life (c) 
Hong Tai Endowment (d) 
Hong Rui Endowment (e) 
Others (f) 

265,270 
58,369 
85,260 
28,757 
13,186 
358,381 

32.8% 
7.2% 
10.5% 
3.6% 
1.6% 
44.3% 

213,103 
7,570 
71,548 
49,263 
24,415 
288,949 

32.5%
1.2%
11.0%
7.5%
3.7%
44.1%

Total 

809,223 

100.0% 

654,848 

100.0%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

113

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.2 Concentration of insurance risks (continued)

(a)  Hong  Feng  is  long-term  individual  endowment  insurance  contract  with  options  for  premium  term 
of  single.  Insured  period  can  be  5  years  or  10  years.  The  insured  can  be  benefited  up  to  age  of  65. 
Maturity  benefit  is  paid  at  100%  of  basic  sum  insured.  Disease  Death  benefit  incurred  within  one 
year after contract effective date is paid at premium received (without interest). Disease death benefit 
incurred  exceed  one  year  after  contract  effective  date  is  paid  at  basic  sum  insured.  Accident  death 
benefit is paid at 300% of basic sum insured.

(b)  Hong  Fu  is  long-term  individual  endowment  insurance  contract  with  options  for  premium  term 
of  single  and  3  year,  designed  for  healthy  policyholders  of  age  between  30  days  and  60  years  old. 
Maturity  benefit  for  lump  sum  premium  is  paid  at  100%  of  basic  sum  insured.  Maturity  benefit  for 
regular  premium  is  paid  at  basic  sum  insured  multiplied  by  number  of  year  of  premium  payments. 
Disease  Death  benefit  incurred  within  one  year  after  contract  effective  date  is  paid  at  premium 
received  (without  interest).  Disease  death  benefits  incurred  exceed  one  year  after  contract  effective 
date  are  paid  at  basic  sum  insured  and  basic  sum  insured  multiplied  by  number  of  year  of  premium 
payments for lump sum premium and regular premium respectively. Accident death benefit is paid at 
300% of basic sum insured and 300% of basic sum insured multiplied by number of year of premium 
payments for lump sum premium and regular premium respectively.

(c)  Kang Ning Whole Life is long-term individual whole life insurance contract with options for premium 
term of single, 10 years or 20 years. Its critical illness benefit accounts for 200% of basic sum insured. 
Both  death  and  disability  benefit  are  paid  at  300%  of  basic  sum  insured  less  any  paid  critical  illness 
benefit.

(d)  Hong  Tai  is  long-term  individual  endowment  insurance  contract  with  options  for  premium  term  of 
single and 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years, designed for healthy policyholders of age between 
30  days  and  60  years  old.  Maturity  benefit  for  lump  sum  premium  is  paid  at  100%  of  basic  sum 
insured.  Maturity  benefit  for  regular  premium  is  paid  at  basic  sum  insured  multiplied  by  number  of 
year  of  premium  payments.  Disease  Death  benefit  incurred  within  one  year  after  contract  effective 
date  is  paid  at  premium  received  (without  interest).  Disease  death  benefits  incurred  exceed  one  year 
after contract effective date are paid at basic sum insured and basic sum insured multiplied by number 
of year of premium payments for lump sum premium and regular premium respectively.

(e)  Hong  Rui  is  long-term  individual  endowment  insurance  contract  with  options  for  premium  term 
of single and 5 years, The insured can be benefited up to age of 70. Accident benefit is paid at basic 
sum insured for lumps sum premium and the accident benefit is paid at basic sum insured multiplied 
by number of year of premium payment if the accident happens within the first to the fourth year of 
insured or 500% of the basic sum insured if the accident happens after the fifth year of insured. The 
maturity  benefit  is  paid  at  100%  and  500%  of  the  basic  sum  insured,  for  lump  sum  premium  and 
regular premium, respectively.

(f)  Others consist of various long-term insurance contracts with no significant concentration.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

114

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.3 Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitive analysis of long-term insurance contracts

Liabilities  for  long-term  insurance  contracts  and  the  liabilities  unbundled  from  universal  life  insurance 
contracts and unit-linked insurance contracts with insurance risk are calculated based on the assumptions on 
mortality rates, morbidity rates, lapse rates and discount rates.

Holding  all  other  variable  constant,  if  mortality  rates  and  morbidity  rates  increase  or  decease  from  current 
best estimate by 10%, pre-tax profit for the year would have been RMB 8,899 or 9,290 million (2008: RMB 
8,252 or 8,635 million) lower or higher.

Holding all other variable constant, if lapse rates increase or decease from current best estimate by 10%, pre-
tax profit for the year would have been RMB 5,426 or 5,802 million (2008: RMB 4,435 or 4,744 million) 
lower or higher.

Holding all other variable constant, if the discount rates are 50 basis points higher or lower than current best 
estimate, pre-tax profit for the year would have been RMB 23,429 or 27,157 million (2008: RMB 22,428 or 
26,177 million) higher or lower.

Sensitive analysis of short-term insurance contracts

The  assumptions  of  reserves  for  claims  and  claim  adjustment  expenses  may  be  affected  by  other  variables 
such as claims payment of short term insurance contracts, which may result in the synchronous changes to 
reserves for claims and claim adjustment expenses.

Holding  all  other  variable  constant,  if  loss  ratios  are  100  basis  points  higher  or  lower  than  current 
assumption,  pre-tax  profit  is  expected  to  be  RMB  132  million  lower  or  higher  (2008:  RMB  127  million). 
Management  believes  that  the  100  basis  points  deviation  used  in  the  sensitivity  analysis  represents  a 
deviation in the expected level of claims that could be reasonably expected for this type of business.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

115

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.3 Sensitivity Analysis (continued)

The  following  table  indicates  the  claim  development  for  short-term  insurance  contracts  without  taking 
account of reinsurance impacts:

Short-term insurance contracts (accident year)
2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

Total

6,771 
6,074 
6,168 
6,168

7,082 
6,891 
6,990

7,725 
7,591

8,102

2005 

6,653 
7,039 
7,087 
7,087 
7,087

7,087 

6,168 

6,990 

7,591 

8,102 

35,938

Current year/
  End of the year 
Later than 1 year 
Later than 2 years 
Later than 3 years 
Later than 4 years 

Estimated accumulated
  claims 

Accumulated paid claims 

(7,087) 

(6,168) 

(6,990) 

(7,271) 

(5,478) 

(32,994)

Unpaid claims 

– 

– 

– 

320 

2,624 

2,944

The  following  table  indicates  the  claim  development  for  short-term  insurance  contracts  taking  account  of 
reinsurance impacts:

Short-term insurance contracts (accident year)
2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

Total

6,703 
6,013 
6,106 
6,106

7,036 
6,847 
6,945

7,671 
7,538

8,017

2005 

5,928 
6,314 
6,426 
6,426 
6,426

6,426 

6,106 

6,945 

7,538 

8,017 

35,032

Current year/
  End of the year 
Later than 1 year 
Later than 2 years 
Later than 3 years 
Later than 4 years 

Estimated accumulated
  claims 

Accumulated paid claims 

(6,426) 

(6,106) 

(6,945) 

(7,221) 

(5,421) 

(32,119)

Unpaid claims 

– 

– 

– 

317 

2,596 

2,913

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

116

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk

The Group’s activities are exposed to a variety of financial risks. The key financial risk is that proceeds from 
the sale of financial assets will not be sufficient to fund obligations arising from the Group’s insurance and 
investment  contracts.  The  most  important  components  of  financial  risk  are  market  risk,  credit  risk  and 
liquidity risk.

The Group’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks 
to minimise potential adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group. Risk management is carried 
out  by  a  designated  department  under  policies  approved  by  management.  The  responsible  department 
identifies, evaluates and manages financial risks in close cooperation with the Group’s operating units. The 
Group  provides  written  principles  for  overall  risk  management,  as  well  as  written  policies  covering  specific 
areas, such as managing market risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk.

The Group manages financial risk by holding an appropriately diversified investment portfolio as permitted 
by  laws  and  regulations  designed  to  reduce  the  risk  of  concentration  in  any  one  specific  industry  or  issuer. 
The structure of the investment portfolio held by the Group is seen in Note 8 to the consolidated financial 
statements.

The sensitivity analyses below are based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions 
constant. In practice this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated (for 
example, change in interest rate and change in market values).

4.2.1 Market risk

(i) 

Interest rate risk

Interest  rate  risk  is  the  risk  that  the  value  of  a  financial  instrument  will  fluctuate  due  to  changes  in 
market interest rates. The Group’s financial assets are principally comprised of term deposits and debt 
securities.  Changes  in  the  level  of  interest  rates  can  have  a  significant  impact  on  the  Group’s  overall 
investment  return.  Many  of  the  Group’s  insurance  policies  offer  guaranteed  returns  to  policyholders. 
These guarantees expose the Group to interest rate risk.

The Group manages interest rate risk through adjustments to portfolio structure and duration, and, to 
the extent possible, by monitoring the mean duration of its assets and liabilities.

The  sensitivity  analysis  for  interest  rate  risk  illustrates  how  changes  in  interest  income  and  the  fair 
value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest 
rates at the end of the reporting period.

At 31 December 2009, if market interest rates had been 50 basis points higher or lower with all other 
variables  held  constant,  pre-tax  profit  for  the  year  would  have  been  RMB  823  million  (2008:  RMB 
626  million)  higher  or  lower  respectively,  mainly  as  a  result  of  higher  or  lower  interest  income  on 
floating rate cash and cash equivalents, term deposits, statutory deposits-restricted and debt securities 
and the fair value losses or gains on debt securities assets at fair value through income, net of impact 
thereof  on  undistributed  participating  policyholders’  dividends.  Pre-tax  available-for  sale  reserve  in 
equity would have been RMB 7,583 million (2008: RMB 8,474 million) lower or higher respectively 
as  a  result  of  a  decrease  or  increase  in  the  fair  value  of  available-for-sale  securities,  net  of  impact 
thereof on undistributed participating policyholders’ dividends.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

117

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.1 Market risk (continued)

(ii) 

Price risk

Price  risk  arises  mainly  from  the  volatility  of  prices  of  equity  securities  held  by  the  Group.  Prices  of 
equity securities are determined by market forces. The Group is subject to increased price risk largely 
because China’s stock markets are relatively volatile.

The  Group  manages  price  risk  by  holding  an  appropriately  diversified  investment  portfolio  as 
permitted  by  laws  and  regulations  designed  to  reduce  the  risk  of  concentration  in  any  one  specific 
industry or issuer.

At 31 December 2009, if all the Group’s equity securities’ prices had increased or decreased by 10% 
with  all  other  variables  held  constant,  pre-tax  profit  for  the  year  would  have  been  RMB  127  million 
(2008:  RMB  452  million)  higher  or  lower  respectively,  mainly  as  a  result  of  an  increase  or  decrease 
in  fair  value  of  equity  securities  excluding  available-for-sale  securities,  net  of  impact  thereof  on 
undistributed participating policyholders’ dividends. Pre-tax available-for-sale reserve in equity would 
have been RMB 11,470 million higher or lower (2008: RMB 4,619 million) as a result of an increase 
or  decrease  in  fair  value  of  available-for-sale  equity  securities,  net  of  impact  thereof  on  undistributed 
participating policyholders’ dividends.

(iii)  Currency risk

Currency  risk  is  volatility  of  fair  value  or  future  cash  flows  of  financial  instruments  resulting  from 
changes  in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates.  The  Group  operates  principally  in  the  PRC  except  for 
limited  exposure  to  foreign  exchange  rate  risk  arising  primarily  with  respect  to  structured  deposits, 
debt securities and common stocks denominated in US dollar (“US$”) or HK dollar (“HK$”).

The Group holds shares traded on the HK stock market, which are traded in HK dollars. Investment 
income from H share holdings have offset the adverse impact of the appreciation of the Renminbi and 
thus spread the risk indirectly.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

118

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.1 Market risk (continued)

(iii)  Currency risk (continued)

The  following  table  summaries  financial  assets  denominated  in  currencies  other  than  RMB  as  at  31 
December 2009 and 2008.

As at 31 December 2009 

US$ 
RMB million 

HK$ 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

Equity securities 
  – Available-for-sale securities 
Debt securities 
  – Held-to-maturity securities 
  – Available-for-sale securities 
Term deposits (excluding structured deposits) 
Structured deposits 
Cash and cash equivalents 

– 
– 
2,902 
2,048 
854 
6,814 
273 
1,911 

13,570 
13,570 
7 
7 
– 
– 
– 
1,538 

13,570
13,570
2,909
2,055
854
6,814
273
3,449

Total 

11,900 

15,115 

27,015

As at 31 December 2008 

US$ 
RMB million 

HK$ 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

Equity securities 
  – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Securities at fair value through income 
Debt securities 
  – Held-to-maturity securities 
  – Available-for-sale securities 
Term deposits (excluding structured deposits) 
Structured deposits 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total 

– 
– 
– 
2,905 
2,051 
854 
4,921 
2,905 
8,236 

18,967 

2,410 
2,398 
12 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
511 

2,921 

2,410
2,398
12
2,905
2,051
854
4,921
2,905
8,747

21,888

Monetary  assets  are  exposed  to  currency  risk  whereas  non-monetary  assets,  such  as  equity  securities, 
expose  themselves  to  price  risk.  As  at  31  December  2009,  if  RMB  had  strengthened  or  weakened  by 
10%  against  USD  and  HK  dollar  with  all  other  variables  held  constant,  pre-tax  profit  for  the  year 
would have been RMB 1,345 million (2008: RMB 1,948 million) lower or higher respectively, mainly 
as  a  result  of  foreign  exchange  losses  or  gains  on  translation  of  USD  and  HK  dollar  denominated 
financial assets other than the equity securities included in the table above.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

119

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.2 Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial transaction or the issuer of a financial instrument will fail 
to  discharge  an  obligation  and  cause  another  party  to  incur  a  financial  loss.  Because  the  Group  is  limited 
in  the  types  of  investments  as  permitted  by  China  Insurance  Regulatory  Commission  (“CIRC”)  and  a 
significant  portion  of  the  portfolio  is  in  government  bonds,  government  agency  bonds  and  term  deposits 
with the state-owned commercial banks, the Group’s overall exposure to credit risk is relatively low.

Credit  risk  is  controlled  by  the  application  of  credit  approvals,  limits  and  monitoring  procedures.  The 
Group  manages  credit  risk  through  in-house  fundamental  analysis  of  the  Chinese  economy  and  the 
underlying obligors and transaction structures. Where appropriate, the Group obtains collateral in the form 
of rights to cash, securities, property and equipment.

Credit exposure

The  carrying  amount  of  financial  assets  included  on  the  consolidated  statement  of  financial  position 
represents  the  maximum  credit  exposure  without  taking  account  of  any  collateral  held  or  other  credit 
enhancements  attached.  The  Group  has  no  credit  risk  exposures  relating  to  off-statement  of  financial 
position items as at 31 December 2009 and 2008.

Collateral and other credit enhancements

Securities purchased under agreements to resell are pledged by counterpart’s debt securities or term deposits 
of  which  the  Group  could  take  the  ownership  should  the  owner  of  the  collateral  default.  Policy  loans  and 
premium receivables are collateralized by their policies’ cash value according to the terms and conditions of 
policy loan contracts and policy contracts respectively signed by the Group together with policyholders.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

120

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.2 Credit risk (continued)

Credit quality

The  Group’s  debt  securities  investment  includes  government  bonds,  government  agency  bonds,  corporate 
bonds and subordinated bonds or debts, and most of the debt securities are guaranteed by either the Chinese 
government or a Chinese government controlled financial institution. As at 31 December 2009, 100% (as at 
31 December 2008: 100%) of the corporate bonds held by the Group have credit rating of AA/A-2 or above. 
As at 31 December 2009, 99.5% (as at 31 December 2008: 99.3%) of the subordinated bonds or debts held 
by  the  Group  either  have  credit  rating  of  AA/A-2  or  above,  or  were  issued  by  national  commercial  banks. 
The bond or debt’s credit rating is assigned by a qualified appraisal institution in the PRC at the time of its 
issuance.

As  at  31  December  2009,  100%  (as  at  31  December  2008:  99.8%)  of  the  Group’s  bank  deposits  are  with 
the  four  largest  state-owned  commercial  banks,  other  national  commercial  banks  and  China  Securities 
Depository  and  Clearing  Corporation  Limited  (CSDCC)  in  the  PRC,  and  almost  all  of  the  reinsurance 
agreements of the Group are with a state-owned reinsurance company. The Group believes these commercial 
banks, CSDCC the reinsurance company have a high credit quality. As a result, the Group concludes credit 
risk  associated  with  term  deposits  and  accrued  investment  income  thereof,  statutory  deposits-restricted, 
cash equivalents and reinsurance assets will not cause material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial 
statements as at 31 December 2009 and 2008.

The  credit  risk  associated  with  securities  purchased  under  agreements  to  resell,  policy  loans  and  premium 
receivables  will  not  cause  a  material  impact  on  the  Group’s  consolidated  financial  statements  taking  into 
consideration of their collateral held and maturity term of no more than one year as at 31 December 2009 
and 2008.

4.2.3 Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not have access to sufficient funds to meet its liabilities as they 
become due.

In  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  Group  attempts  to  match  the  maturity  of  financial  assets  to  the 
maturity of insurance and financial liabilities.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

121

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.3 Liquidity risk (continued)

The  following  tables  set  forth  the  contractual  and  expected  undiscounted  cash  flows  for  financial  assets, 
insurance and financial liabilities:

Contractual and expected cash flows 
(undiscounted)

Not 
later 
than 1 
year 

Later than 1 
year but not 
later than 3 
years 

Later than 3
years but not 
later than 5 
years 

Carrying 
amount 

Without 
maturity 

179,390 
582,285 
23,081 
344,983 
6,153 
14,208 
6,818 
36,176 

179,390 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
27,803 
14,448 
91,552 
191 
14,208 
6,818 
36,176 

– 
91,257 
1,234 
79,100 
2,319 
– 
– 
– 

– 
85,720 
1,234 
149,936 
4,406 
– 
– 
– 

Later
than 5
years

–
686,923
12,746
65,405
–
–
–
–

As at 31 December 2009 

Financial assets

Contractual cash flows 

in/(out)

  Equity securities 
  Debt securities 
  Loans 
  Term deposits 
  Statutory deposits-restricted 
  Accrued investment income 
  Premiums receivable 
  Cash and cash equivalents 

Subtotal 

1,193,094 

179,390 

191,196 

173,910 

241,296 

765,074

Financial and insurance

liabilities

Expected cash flows out/(in)

Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 

Contractual cash flows 
  out/(in)
  Securities sold under

  agreements to repurchase 
  Annuity and other insurance

  balances payable 

Subtotal 

818,164 
67,274 

33,553 

5,721 

924,712 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

(7,558) 
18,386 

34,103 
20,121 

118,673 
13,595 

1,335,276
34,352

33,553 

5,721 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–

–

50,102 

54,224 

132,268 

1,369,628

Total cash flows in/(out) 

268,382 

179,390 

141,094 

119,686 

109,028 

(604,554)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

122

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.3 Liquidity risk (continued)

Contractual and expected cash flows 
(undiscounted)

Not 
later 
than 1 
year 

Later than 1 
year but not 
later than 3 
years 

Later than 3
years but not 
later than 5 
years 

Later
than 5
years

Carrying 
amount 

Without 
maturity 

75,075 
575,871 
17,926 
228,272 
6,153 
13,149 
6,433 
34,074 

75,075 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
49,178 
9,293 
69,359 
460 
13,149 
6,433 
34,074 

– 
108,633 
1,234 
50,902 
748 
– 
– 
– 

– 
77,224 
1,234 
126,210 
5,919 
– 
– 
– 

–
571,228
13,363
9,298
–
–
–
–

As at 31 December 2008 

Financial assets

Contractual cash flows

in/(out)

  Equity securities 
  Debt securities 
  Loans 
  Term deposits 
  Statutory deposits-restricted 
  Accrued investment income 
  Premiums receivable 
  Cash and cash equivalents 

Subtotal 

956,953 

75,075 

181,946 

161,517 

210,587 

593,889

Financial and insurance

liabilities

Expected cash flows out/(in)

Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 

662,865 
65,050 

Contractual cash flows
  out/(in)
  Securities sold under

  agreements to repurchase 
  Annuity and other insurance

  balances payable 

Subtotal 

11,390 

4,980 

744,285 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

(2,367) 
18,079 

20,358 
18,582 

95,160 
9,979 

1,069,670
37,430

11,390 

4,980 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–

–

32,082 

38,940 

105,139 

1,107,100

Total cash flows in/(out) 

212,668 

75,075 

149,864 

122,577 

105,448 

(513,211)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

123

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.3 Liquidity risk (continued)

The  amounts  set  forth  in  the  tables  above  for  insurance  and  investment  contracts  in  each  column  are  the 
cash  flows  representing  expected  future  benefit  payments  taking  into  consideration  of  future  premiums 
payments  or  deposits  from  policyholders.  The  excess  cash  inflow  from  matured  financial  assets  will 
be  reinvested  to  cover  any  future  liquidity  exposures.  The  estimate  is  subject  to  assumptions  related 
to  mortality,  morbidity,  discount  rate,  loss  ratio,  expenses  assumption  and  other  assumptions.  Actual 
experience may differ from estimates.

At  31  December  2009,  declared  dividends  of  RMB  23,833  million  (2008:  RMB  24,295  million)  included 
in  policyholder  dividends  payable  have  a  maturity  not  later  than  one  year.  For  the  remaining  policyholder 
dividends  payable,  the  amount  and  timing  of  the  cash  flows  are  indeterminate  due  to  the  uncertainty  of 
future experiences including investment returns and are subject to future declarations by the Group.

The  other  maturity  analysis  is  conducted  on  the  assumption  that  all  investment  contracts  (with  DPF  and 
without DPF) and universal life insurance contracts were surrendered immediately. This would cause a cash 
outflow  of  RMB  50,365  million,  RMB  1,482  million  and  RMB  14,891  million  respectively  for  the  period 
ended  31  December  2009  (2008:  RMB  51,818  million,  RMB  1,543  million  and  RMB  11,249  million 
respectively),  payable  within  one  year.  Although  contractually  these  options  can  be  exercised  immediately 
by all policyholders at once, the Group’s expected cash flows as shown in the above tables are based on past 
experience and future expectations.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

124

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.4 Capital management

The Group’s objectives when managing capital, which is actual capital, calculated as the difference between 
admitted  assets  (defined  by  CIRC)  and  the  admitted  liabilities  (defined  by  CIRC),  are  to  comply  with 
the  insurance  capital  requirements  required  by  the  CIRC  to  meet  the  minimum  capital  and  safeguard  the 
Group’s  ability  to  continue  as  a  going  concern  so  that  it  can  continue  to  provide  returns  for  shareholders 
and benefits for other stakeholders.

The  Group  is  also  subject  to  other  local  capital  requirements,  such  as  statutory  deposits-restricted 
requirement  and  Statutory  reserve  fund  requirement,  discussed  in  detail  under  Note  8.4  and  Note  31, 
respectively.

The  Group  ensures  its  continuous  and  full  compliance  with  the  regulations  mainly  through  monitoring 
quarterly  and  annual  static  solvency  margin,  as  well  as  the  dynamic  solvency  margin,  which  predicts  the 
solvency  margin  for  the  next  three  years  based  on  different  scenarios.  It  has  complied  with  all  the  local 
capital requirements.

The  table  below  summarises  the  solvency  ratio  of  the  Company,  the  regulatory  capital  held  (represented 
by  actual  capital)  against  the  minimum  required  capital  (represented  by  minimum  capital).  The  solvency 
ratio  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2008  was  recalculated  due  to  the  adoption  of  MoF  new  guidance  as 
disclosed in note 2.1.

Actual capital 
Minimum capital 
Solvency ratio 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2008
RMB million

147,119 
48,459 
304% 

124,561
40,154
310%

According  to  “Solvency  Regulations  of  Insurance  Companies”,  the  solvency  ratio  is  computed  by  dividing 
the  actual  capital  by  the  minimum  capital.  CIRC  will  closely  monitor  those  insurance  companies  with 
solvency  ratio  less  than  100%  and  may,  depending  on  the  individual  circumstances,  undertake  certain 
regulatory measures, including but not limited to restricting the payment of dividends. Insurance companies 
with solvency ratio between 100% and 150% would be required to submit and implement plans preventing 
capital  from  being  inadequate.  And  Insurance  companies  with  solvency  ratio  above  100%  but  significant 
solvency risk noticed would be required to take necessary rectification action.

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

125

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.3  Fair value hierarchy

At 31 December 2009, investments classified as Level 1 comprise approximately 41.78% of financial assets 
measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurements classified as Level 1 include certain debt 
securities,  equity  securities  that  are  traded  in  an  active  exchange  market  or  inter-bank  market.  The  Group 
considers a combination of certain factors to determine whether a market for a financial instrument is active, 
including the occurrence of trades within the specific period, the respective trading volume, and the degree 
which the implied yields for a debt security for observed transactions differs from the Group’s understanding 
of the current relevant market rates and information.

At  31  December  2009,  investments  classified  as  Level  2  comprise  approximately  57.93%  of  financial 
assets  measured  at  fair  value  on  a  recurring  basis.  They  primarily  include  certain  debt  securities  and  equity 
securities.  Valuations  are  generally  obtained  from  third  party  pricing  services  for  identical  or  comparable 
assets,  or  through  the  use  of  valuation  methodologies  using  observable  market  inputs,  or  recent  quoted 
market  prices.  Valuation  service  providers  typically  gather,  analyze  and  interpret  information  related  to 
market  transactions  and  other  key  valuation  model  inputs  from  multiple  sources,  and  through  the  use  of 
widely accepted internal valuation models, provide a theoretical quote on various securities.

For  the  years  ended  31  December  2009  and  2008,  most  of  these  prices  obtained  from  the  pricing  services 
are  for  debt  securities  issued  by  the  Chinese  government  and  government  controlled  organizations.  These 
pricing  services  utilize  a  discounted  cash  flow  valuation  model  using  market  observable  inputs,  mainly 
interest rates, to determine a fair value. These debt securities are classified as Level 2.

Fair  value  provide  by  valuation  service  providers  are  subject  to  a  number  of  validation  procedures  by 
management.  These  procedures  include  a  review  of  the  valuation  models  utilized  and  the  results  of  these 
models, and as well as the recalculation of prices obtained from pricing services at the end of each reporting 
period.

Fair  value  is  based  on  significant  inputs,  other  than  Level  1  quoted  price,  that  are  observable  for  the 
asset  being  measured,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  for  substantially  the  full  term  of  the  asset  through 
corroboration  with  observable  market  data.  Observable  inputs  generally  used  to  measure  the  fair  value 
of  securities  classified  as  Level  2  include  quoted  market  prices  for  similar  assets  in  active  markets;  quoted 
market prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets and other market observable inputs.

Under certain conditions, the Group may not received price from independent third party pricing services. 
In  this  instance,  the  Group  may  choose  to  apply  internally  developed  values  to  the  assets  being  measured. 
In  such  cases,  the  valuations  are  generally  classified  as  Level  3.  Key  inputs  involved  in  internal  valuation 
services  include,  but  are  not  limited  to  market  price  from  recently  completed  transactions,  interest  yield 
curves, credit spreads, currency rates as well as assumptions made by management based on judgements and 
experiences.

At  31  December  2009,  investments  classified  as  Level  3  comprise  approximately  0.29%  of  financial  assets 
measured  at  fair  value  on  a  recurring  basis.  They  primarily  include  subordinated  debts,  certain  corporate 
and  government  agency  bonds  and  certain  equity  securities.  Prices  are  determined  using  valuation 
methodologies such as discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques. Determinations to classify 
fair  value  measures  within  Level  3  of  the  valuation  hierarchy  are  generally  based  on  the  significance  of  the 
unobservable factors to the overall fair value measurement, and valuation methodologies such as discounted 
cash flow models and other similar techniques.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

126

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.3  Fair value hierarchy (continued)

For  the  accounting  policies  regarding  the  determination  of  the  fair  values  of  financial  assets  and  financial 
liabilities, see Note 3.2.

The following table presents the Group’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value at 31 December 2009.

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total balance

Assets
Available-for-sale securities
  – Equity securities 
  – Debt securities 
Securities at fair value through income
  – Equity securities 
  – Debt securities 

172,383 
42,308 

2,704 
2,628 

3,053 
298,216 

38 
3,763 

1,238 
301 

– 
– 

176,674
340,825

2,742
6,391

Total assets 

220,023 

305,070 

1,539 

526,632

Liabilities
Investment contracts at fair value

through income 

Total liabilities 

(52) 

(52) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(52)

(52)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

127

4  MANAGEMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RISK (continued)

4.3  Fair value hierarchy (continued)

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 instruments for the year ended 31 December 2009.

Available-for-sale 
Securities 

Debt 
securities 

Equity 
Securities 

Securities at fair value
through income
Equity 
Securities 

Opening balance 
Total gains and losses recognized in 
  – Profit or loss 
  – Other comprehensive income/(loss) 
Transfer out of Level 3 
Purchases 
Sales 
Issues 
Settlements 

385 

1,007 

3 
(3) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(84) 

– 
127 
(617) 
721 
– 
– 
– 

Closing balance 

301 

1,238 

Total gains for the period

included in income for assets
  and liabilities held at the end of

the reporting period 

– 

– 

15 

15 
– 
(30) 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

Total
assets

1,407

18
124
(647)
721
–
–
(84)

1,539

–

In 2009, the Group transferred certain debt and equity securities among Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. This 
was due to the change in the availability of market observable inputs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

128

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION

5.1  Operating segments

The Group operates in four operating segments:

(i) 

Individual life insurance business (Individual life)

Individual life insurance business relates primarily to the sale of long-term life insurance contracts and 
universal life contracts to individuals and assumed individual reinsurance contracts.

(ii)  Group life insurance business (Group life)

Group  life  insurance  business  relates  primarily  to  the  sale  of  insurance  contracts  and  investment 
contracts to group entities.

(iii)  Short-term insurance business (Short-term)

Short-term insurance business relates primarily to the sale of short-term insurance contracts.

(iv)  Corporate and other business (Corporate and other)

Corporate and other business relates primarily to income, tax expenses and allocated costs of insurance 
agency business in respect of the provision of the services to CLIC, as described in Note 29, share of 
results of associates, income and expenses of subsidiaries, unallocated incomes and expenditures of the 
Group.

5.2  Allocation basis of income and expenses

Investment income, net realised gains or losses on financial assets, net fair value gains or losses on assets at 
fair value through income and foreign exchange losses within other operating expenses are allocated among 
segments in proportion to each respective segment’s average liabilities of insurance contracts and investment 
contracts at the beginning and end of the year. Administrative expenses and certain other operating expenses 
are allocated among segments in proportion to the unit cost of products in the respective segments. Except 
for  those  arising  from  investment  contracts  presented  in  corresponding  segments,  other  income  and  other 
operating expenses are presented in “Corporate & Other” directly.

5.3  Allocation basis of assets and liabilities

Financial  assets  and  securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase  are  allocated  among  segments  in 
proportion to each respective segment’s average liabilities of insurance contracts and investment contracts at 
the beginning and end of the year. Insurance liabilities are presented among segments respectively.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

129

Revenues
Gross written premiums 
   – Term Life 
  – Whole Life 
  – Endowment 
  – Annuity 
Net premiums earned 
Investment income 
Net realised gains on financial assets 
Net fair value gains on assets at fair 
  value through income 
Other income 

including: inter-segment revenue 

For the year ended 31 December 2009

Individual 
life 

Group 
life 

Short- 
term 
(RMB million)

Corporate
& other 

Elimination 

Total

261,715 
805 
37,860 
184,841 
38,209 
261,694 
35,693 
19,522 

1,330 
283 
– 

190 
112 
60 
– 
18 
189 
2,614 
1,430 

97 
331 
– 

14,065 
– 
– 
– 
– 
13,194 
408 
222 

16 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
175 
70 

6 
2,586 
570 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
(570) 
(570) 

275,970

275,077
38,890
21,244

1,449
2,630
–

Segment revenues 

318,522 

4,661 

13,840 

2,837 

(570) 

339,290

Benefits, claims and expenses
Insurance benefits and claims
  Life insurance death and other benefits 
  Accident and health claims and claim 

  adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contracts liabilities 

Investment contract benefits 
Policyholder dividends resulting from 
  participation in profits 
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating expenses 

including: Inter-segment expenses 

Statutory insurance fund 

(74,416) 

(442) 

– 

– 
(154,552) 
(560) 

(13,181) 
(20,881) 
(13,057) 
(1,702) 
(504) 
(404) 

– 
180 
(1,582) 

(1,306) 
(113) 
(779) 
(131) 
(37) 
(21) 

(7,808) 
– 
– 

– 
(1,877) 
(3,236) 
(387) 
(6) 
(112) 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
(65) 
(1,647) 
(740) 
(23) 
– 

Segment benefits, claims and expenses 

(278,753) 

(4,194) 

(13,420) 

(2,452) 

Share of results of associates 

Segment results 

Income tax expenses 

Net profit/(loss) 

Attributable to
  – shareholders of the Company 
  – minority interests 

Unrealised gains/(losses) included 

in shareholder’s equity 

Depreciation and amortisation 

– 

39,769 

– 

39,769 

39,769 
– 

9,953 

1,169 

– 

467 

– 

467 

467 
– 

729 

69 

– 

420 

– 

420 

420 
– 

113 

289 

704 

1,089 

(8,709) 

(7,620) 

(7,775) 
155 

(50) 

33 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
570 
570 
– 

570 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

(74,858)

(7,808)
(154,372)
(2,142)

(14,487)
(22,936)
(18,719)
(2,390)
–
(537)

(298,249)

704

41,745

(8,709)

33,036

32,881
155

10,745

1,560

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

130

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

Individual 
life 

Group 
life 

As at 31 December 2009

Corporate
& other 

Short- 
term 
(RMB million)

Elimination 

Total

Assets

Financial assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Other 

1,056,319 
32,808 
701 

76,351 
2,401 
– 

11,877 
373 
114 

5,609 
615 
8,470 

Segment assets 

1,089,828 

78,752 

12,364 

14,694 

Unallocated
Property, plant and equipment 
Other 

Total 

Liabilities

Insurance contracts 
Financial liabilities 

Investment contracts 

  Securities sold under agreements  

to repurchase 

Other 

808,591 

632 

8,941 

14,579 

52,747 

30,250 
120 

2,215 
436 

– 

345 
– 

Segment liabilities 

853,540 

56,030 

9,286 

Unallocated
Other 

Total 

– 

– 

743 
– 

743 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

1,150,156
36,197
9,285

1,195,638

17,467
13,152

1,226,257

818,164

67,326

33,553
556

919,599

93,882

1,013,481

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

131

Revenues
Gross written premiums 
   – Term Life 
  – Whole Life 
  – Endowment 
  – Annuity 
Net premiums earned 
Investment income 
Net realised losses on 
financial assets 

Net fair value losses on assets 
  at fair value through income 
Other income 

including: inter-segment revenue 

For the year ended 31 December 2008

Individual 
life 

Group 
life 

Short- 
term 
(RMB million)

Corporate
& other 

Elimination 

Total

252,130 
308 
35,421 
188,099 
28,302 
252,113 
40,407 

(5,355) 

(6,382) 
605 
– 

340 
25 
274 
– 
41 
339 
3,699 

(490) 

(584) 
683 
– 

13,186 
– 
– 
– 
– 
12,725 
524 

(69) 

(83) 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
316 

(50) 

(145) 
2,513 
381 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
(381) 
(381) 

265,656

265,177
44,946

(5,964)

(7,194)
3,420
–

Segment revenues 

281,388 

3,647 

13,097 

2,634 

(381) 

300,385

Benefits, claims and expenses
Insurance benefits and claims
  Life insurance death and other benefits 
  Accident and health claims and claim 

  adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contracts liabilities 

Investment contract benefits 
Policyholder dividends resulting from 
  participation in profits 
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating expenses 

including: Inter-segment expenses 

Statutory insurance fund 

(88,507) 

(1,152) 

– 

– 
(135,298) 
(224) 

(1,589) 
(22,127) 
(11,347) 
(2,826) 
(212) 
(395) 

– 
649 
(1,707) 

(82) 
(212) 
(761) 
(273) 
(19) 
(28) 

(7,641) 
– 
– 

– 
(1,848) 
(2,614) 
(263) 
(3) 
(135) 

Segment benefits, claims and expenses 

(262,313) 

(3,566) 

(12,501) 

Share of results of associates 

Segment results 

Income tax expenses 

Net profit/(loss) 

Attributable to
  – shareholders of the Company 
  – minority interests 

Unrealised gains/(losses) included 

in shareholder’s equity 

Depreciation and amortisation 

– 

19,075 

– 

19,075 

19,075 
– 

– 

81 

– 

81 

81 
– 

– 

596 

– 

596 

596 
– 

(30,457) 

(2,788) 

1,014 

68 

(395) 

248 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
(13) 
(1,930) 
(428) 
(147) 
– 

(2,371) 

(56) 

207 

(685) 

(478) 

(615) 
137 

188 

28 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
381 
381 
– 

381 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

(89,659)

(7,641)
(134,649)
(1,931)

(1,671)
(24,200)
(16,652)
(3,409)
–
(558)

(280,370)

(56)

19,959

(685)

19,274

19,137
137

(33,452)

1,358

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

132

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

Individual 
life 

Group 
life 

As at 31 December 2008

Corporate
& other 

Short- 
term 
(RMB million)

Elimination 

Total

Assets

Financial assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Other 

827,033 
30,724 
698 

74,923 
2,812 
– 

10,606 
398 
77 

3,905 
151 
7,891 

Segment assets 

858,455 

77,735 

11,081 

11,947 

Unallocated
Property, plant and equipment 
Other 

Total 

Liabilities

Insurance contracts 
Financial Liabilities

Investment contracts 
  Securities sold under

  agreements to repurchase 

Other 

654,037 

811 

8,017 

10,928 

54,135 

10,141 
48 

928 
237 

– 

131 
– 

Segment liabilities 

675,154 

56,111 

8,148 

Unallocated
Other 

Total 

– 

– 

190 
– 

190 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

916,467
34,085
8,666

959,218

16,720
11,555

987,493

662,865

65,063

11,390
285

739,603

73,019

812,622

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

6 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Group

133

Office
equipment
furniture 
and fixtures 

Buildings 

2009

Motor  Assets under 
vehicles 

Leasehold
construction  improvements 

Total

(RMB Million)

Cost
As at 1 January 2009 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

13,397 
560 
190 
(75) 

4,092 
6 
750 
(213) 

1,853 
– 
157 
(164) 

3,024 
(607) 
1,520 
(401) 

691 
41 
78 
(18) 

23,057
–
2,695
(871)

As at 31 December 2009 

14,072 

4,635 

1,846 

3,536 

792 

24,881

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2009 
Additions 
Disposals 

(2,789) 
(502) 
15 

(2,157) 
(598) 
168 

(1,116) 
(175) 
142 

As at 31 December 2009 

(3,276) 

(2,587) 

(1,149) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2009 
Additions 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2009 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2009 

(32) 
(1) 
3 

(30) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

10,576 

1,935 

As at 31 December 2009 

10,766 

2,048 

– 
– 
– 

– 

737 

697 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

(243) 
(139) 
10 

(6,305)
(1,414)
335

(372) 

(7,384)

– 
– 
– 

– 

(32)
(1)
3

(30)

3,024 

448 

16,720

3,536 

420 

17,467

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

134

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

6 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (continued)

Group

Office
equipment
furniture 
and fixtures 

Buildings 

2008

Motor 
vehicles 

Assets under 
construction 

Leasehold
improvements 

Total

(RMB Million)

Cost
As at 1 January 2008 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

12,655 
416 
439 
(113) 

3,617 
– 
752 
(277) 

1,815 
– 
203 
(165) 

2,594 
(416) 
898 
(52) 

333 
– 
369 
(11) 

21,014
–
2,661
(618)

As at 31 December 2008 

13,397 

4,092 

1,853 

3,024 

691 

23,057

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2008 
Additions 
Disposals 

(2,374) 
(444) 
29 

(1,865) 
(531) 
239 

(1,097) 
(175) 
156 

As at 31 December 2008 

(2,789) 

(2,157) 

(1,116) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2008 
Additions 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2008 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2008 

(13) 
(24) 
5 

(32) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

10,268 

1,752 

As at 31 December 2008 

10,576 

1,935 

– 
– 
– 

– 

718 

737 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

(159) 
(94) 
10 

(5,495)
(1,244)
434

(243) 

(6,305)

– 
– 
– 

– 

(13)
(24)
5

(32)

2,594 

174 

15,506

3,024 

448 

16,720

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

135

6 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (continued)

Company

Office
equipment
furniture 
and fixtures 

Buildings 

2009

Motor  Assets under 
vehicles 

Leasehold
construction  improvements 

Total

(RMB Million)

Cost
As at 1 January 2009 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

13,084 
731 
190 
(245) 

4,036 
6 
728 
(213) 

1,843 
– 
153 
(164) 

3,019 
(778) 
1,316 
(221) 

691 
41 
77 
(18) 

22,673
–
2,464
(861)

As at 31 December 2009 

13,760 

4,557 

1,832 

3,336 

791 

24,276

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2009 
Additions 
Disposals 

(2,761) 
(486) 
15 

(2,136) 
(590) 
168 

(1,114) 
(173) 
142 

As at 31 December 2009 

(3,232) 

(2,558) 

(1,145) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2009 
Additions 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2009 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2009 

(32) 
(1) 
3 

(30) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

10,291 

1,900 

As at 31 December 2009 

10,498 

1,999 

– 
– 
– 

– 

729 

687 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

(243) 
(138) 
10 

(6,254)
(1,387)
335

(371) 

(7,306)

– 
– 
– 

– 

(32)
(1)
3

(30)

3,019 

448 

16,387

3,336 

420 

16,940

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

136

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

6 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (continued)

Company

Office
equipment
furniture 
and fixtures 

Buildings 

2008

Motor 
vehicles 

Assets under 
construction 

Leasehold
improvements 

Total

(RMB Million)

Cost
As at 1 January 2008 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

12,343 
416 
438 
(113) 

3,569 
– 
742 
(275) 

1,809 
– 
199 
(165) 

2,589 
(416) 
898 
(52) 

333 
– 
369 
(11) 

20,643
–
2,646
(616)

As at 31 December 2008 

13,084 

4,036 

1,843 

3,019 

691 

22,673

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2008 
Additions 
Disposals 

(2,362) 
(428) 
29 

(1,851) 
(524) 
239 

(1,096) 
(174) 
156 

As at 31 December 2008 

(2,761) 

(2,136) 

(1,114) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2008 
Additions 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2008 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2008 

(13) 
(24) 
5 

(32) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

9,968 

1,718 

As at 31 December 2008 

10,291 

1,900 

– 
– 
– 

– 

713 

729 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

(159) 
(94) 
10 

(5,468)
(1,220)
434

(243) 

(6,254)

– 
– 
– 

– 

(13)
(24)
5

(32)

2,589 

174 

15,162

3,019 

448 

16,387

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

7 

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES

Group

137

As at 1 January 
Additional capital contribution to China Life Property
  & Casualty Insurance Company Limited (“CLP&C”) (Note 29(e)) 
Investment in China Life Insurance Brokers Company Limited (“CIB”) 
Share of results 
Other equity movements 
Dividend received 

As at 31 December 

2009 
RMB million 

2008
RMB million

7,891 

– 
– 
704 
(70) 
(55) 

8,470 

6,449

1,200
7
(56)
291
–

7,891

The group’s share in investment its associates, all of which are unlisted, is as follows:

Assets and liabilities of associates

Name 

Country of  
incorporation 

Interest
held 

Guangdong Development Bank (“GDB”) 
CLP&C 

Total as at 1 January 2008 

GDB 
CLP&C 
CIB 

Total as at 31 December 2008 

GDB 
CLP&C 
CIB 

Total as at 31 December 2009 

PRC 
PRC 

PRC 
PRC 
PRC 

PRC 
PRC 
PRC 

20% 
40% 

20% 
40% 
49% 

20% 
40% 
49% 

Assets 
RMB million 

Liabilities
RMB million

90,584 
641 

84,419
357

91,225 

84,776

112,252 
3,595 
7 

105,283
2,680
–

115,854 

107,963

136,344 
4,855 
6 

128,859
3,876
–

141,205 

132,735

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

138

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

7 

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES (continued)

Revenues and profit/(loss) of associates

Name 

GDB 
CLP&C 
CIB 

Total for the year ended 31 December 2008 

GDB 
CLP&C 
CIB 

Total for the year ended 31 December 2009 

Company

As at 1 January 
Additional capital contribution to CLP&C 
Investment in CIB 

As at 31 December 

Revenue 
RMB million 

Profit/(Loss)
RMB million

3,542 
1,273 
– 

4,815 

3,023 
2,946 
– 

5,969 

559
(615)
–

(56)

673
32
(1)

704

2009 
RMB million  

2008
RMB million

7,278 
– 
– 

7,278 

6,071
1,200
7

7,278

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

139

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS

8.1  Held-to-maturity securities

Group

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

103,980 
84,619 
3,139 
43,361 

102,688 
79,400 
3,267 
26,574 

96,786
71,273
3,272
24,372

Total 

235,099 

211,929 

195,703

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

17,872 
217,227 

24,193 
187,736 

25,342
170,361

Total 

235,099 

211,929 

195,703

The  estimated  fair  value  of  listed  held-to-maturity  securities  is  RMB  18,683  million  (31  December  2008: 
RMB 26,327 million; 1 January 2008: RMB 25,406 million).

Company

Debt securities 
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 103,980  
 84,619  
 3,132  
 43,361  

102,688 
79,400 
3,267 
26,574 

96,786
71,273
3,272
24,372

Total 

235,092 

211,929 

195,703

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

 17,872  
217,220 

 24,193  
187,736 

 25,342 
170,361

Total 

235,092 

211,929 

195,703

The  estimated  fair  value  of  listed  held-to-maturity  securities  is  RMB  18,683  million  (31  December  2008: 
RMB 26,327 million; 1 January 2008: RMB 25,406 million).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

140

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.1  Held-to-maturity securities (continued)

Group debt securities 
  – Contractual maturity schedule 

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 5,937  
 34,903  
 43,792  
 150,467  

 24,107  
 28,445  
 55,866  
 103,511  

 2,896 
 50,059 
 52,508 
 90,240 

Total 

235,099 

211,929 

195,703

Company debt securities 
  – Contractual maturity schedule 

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 5,937  
 34,903  
 43,785  
 150,467  

 24,107  
 28,445  
 55,866  
 103,511  

 2,896 
 50,059 
 52,508 
 90,240 

Total 

235,092 

211,929 

195,703

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

141

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.2  Loans

Group

Policy loans 
Other loans 

Total 

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 13,831  
 9,250  

8,676 
9,250 

23,081 

17,926 

5,944
1,200

7,144

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 13,831  
– 
 1,200  
 8,050  

 8,676  
– 
 1,200  
 8,050  

 5,944 
–
 1,200 
–

Total 

23,081 

17,926 

7,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

142

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.2  Loans (continued)

Company

Policy loans 
Other loans 

Total 

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 13,831  
 9,200  

8,676 
9,200 

23,031 

17,876 

5,944
1,200

7,144

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 13,831  
– 
 1,200  
 8,000  

 8,676  
– 
 1,200  
 8,000  

 5,944 
–
 1,200 
–

Total 

23,031 

17,876 

7,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

143

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.3  Term deposits

Group

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

Total 

Company

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 84,393  
 196,090  
 64,500  
– 

 64,621  
 155,320  
 6,759  
 1,572  

 46,706 
 93,372 
 26,434 
 2,082 

344,983 

228,272 

168,594

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

82,893 
196,090 
64,500 
– 

64,621 
155,320 
6,759 
1,572 

46,706
93,372
26,434
2,082

Total 

343,483 

228,272 

168,594

Included  in  the  Group  and  Company’s  term  deposits  are  structured  deposits  of  RMB  273  million  (31 
December  2008:  RMB  2,905  million;  1  January  2008:  4,346  million).  The  interest  rate  on  these  deposits 
fluctuates based on changes in interest rate indexes. Structured deposits are stated at amortised cost.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

144

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.4  Statutory deposits-restricted

Group

Contractual maturity schedule
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 

Total 

Company

Contractual maturity schedule
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 100  
 6,053  

 200  
 5,953  

 5,353 
 420 

6,153 

6,153 

5,773

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

– 
5,653 

5,653 

200 
5,453 

5,653 

5,353
300

5,653

Insurance  companies  in  China  are  required  to  deposit  an  amount  equal  to  20%  of  their  registered  capital 
with banks designated by CIRC. These funds may not be used for any purpose, other than to pay off debts 
during a liquidation proceeding.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

145

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.5  Available-for-sale securities

Group

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Funds 
  Common stocks 

Subtotal 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

51,996 
165,231 
102,553 
21,045 

80,006 
191,121 
67,505 
17,588 

80,588
107,154
43,742
9,898

340,825 

356,220 

241,382

75,798 
100,876 

29,890 
38,829 

60,624
115,509

176,674 

68,719 

176,133

517,499 

424,939 

417,515

28,086 
312,739 

29,202 
327,018 

31,947
209,435

Subtotal 

340,825 

356,220 

241,382

Equity securities
  Listed in Hong Kong, PRC 
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

13,570 
97,803 
65,301 

2,398 
39,311 
27,010 

8,464
123,810
43,859

176,674 

68,719 

176,133

517,499 

424,939 

417,515

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

146

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.5  Available-for-sale securities (continued)

Company

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Funds 
  Common stocks 

Subtotal 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 51,996  
 163,849  
 101,932  
 20,268  

79,936 
188,799 
67,142 
17,383 

80,588
106,760
43,742
9,898

338,045 

353,260 

240,988

75,326 
100,684 

29,690 
38,734 

60,288
115,405

176,010 

68,424 

175,693

514,055 

421,684 

416,681

27,803 
310,242 

29,064 
324,196 

31,947
209,041

Subtotal 

338,045 

353,260 

240,988

Equity securities
  Listed in Hong Kong, PRC 
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

13,570 
97,230 
65,210 

2,398 
39,016 
27,010 

8,464
123,370
43,859

176,010 

68,424 

175,693

514,055 

421,684 

416,681

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.5  Available-for-sale securities (continued)

147

Group debt securities 
  – contractual maturity schedule 

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 2,912  
 45,607  
 123,719  
168,587 

7,801 
73,461 
121,916 
153,042 

 612 
 22,672 
 87,615 
130,483

Total 

340,825 

356,220 

241,382

Company debt securities 
  – contractual maturity schedule 

Maturing
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 2,507  
 44,300  
 122,652  
 168,586  

 7,598  
 71,506  
 121,114  
 153,042  

 612 
 22,424 
 87,469 
 130,483 

Total 

338,045 

353,260 

240,988

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

148

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.6  Securities at fair value through income

Group

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Funds 
  Common stocks 
  Warrants 

Subtotal 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

2,438 
3,549 
404 
– 

6,391 

569 
2,162 
11 

2,742 

1,428 
4,660 
1,648 
– 

7,736 

4,063 
2,295 
5 

6,363 

693
4,583
513
307

6,096

9,145
9,842
27

19,014

9,133 

14,099 

25,110

672 
5,719 

1,216 
6,520 

578
5,518

Subtotal 

 6,391  

 7,736  

 6,096 

Equity securities
  Listed in Hong Kong, PRC 
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

– 
 2,201  
 541  

 12  
 2,755  
 3,596  

 12 
 10,767 
 8,235 

 2,742  

 6,363  

 19,014 

 9,133  

 14,099  

 25,110 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

149

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.6  Securities at fair value through income (continued)

Company

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Funds 
  Common stocks 
  Warrants 

Subtotal 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 2,438  
 3,549  
 384 
– 

 1,428  
 4,660  
 1,629  
– 

 693 
 4,383 
 471 
 307 

 6,371  

 7,717  

 5,854 

 569  
 2,162  
 11  

 4,063  
 2,283  
 5  

 9,145 
 9,818 
 27 

 2,742  

 6,351  

 18,990 

 9,113  

 14,068  

 24,844 

 652  
 5,719  

 1,197  
 6,520  

 536 
 5,318 

Subtotal 

 6,371  

 7,717  

 5,854 

Equity securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

 2,201  
 541  

 2,755  
 3,596  

 10,755 
 8,235 

 2,742  

 6,351  

 18,990 

 9,113  

 14,068  

 24,844 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

150

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.7  Securities purchased under agreements to resell

Group

Maturing:
  Within thirty days 

Company

Maturing:
  Within thirty days 

8.8  Accrued investment income

Group

Bank deposits 
Debt securities 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total  

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

– 

– 

 5,053 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

– 

– 

 4,673 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 5,987  
 8,030  
 191  

 4,525  
 8,348  
 276  

 3,700 
 6,014 
 143 

 14,208  

 13,149  

 9,857 

 14,208  
– 

 13,149  
– 

 9,824 
 33 

 14,208  

 13,149  

 9,857 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

151

8 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

8.8  Accrued investment income

Company

Bank deposits 
Debt securities 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total  

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

 5,947  
 7,982  
 191  

 4,508  
 8,298  
 274  

 3,696 
 6,011 
 141 

 14,120  

 13,080  

 9,848 

 14,120  
– 

 13,080  
– 

 9,815 
 33 

 14,120  

 13,080  

 9,848 

9 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
The estimates and judgments to determine the fair value of financial assets are described in Note 3.2.

The  fair  value  of  investment  contracts  are  determined  by  using  valuation  techniques,  with  consideration  of  the 
present  value  of  expected  cash  flows  arising  from  contracts  using  a  risk-adjusted  discount  rate,  allowing  for  risk 
free rate available on valuation date, the own credit risk and risk margin associated with the future cash flows.

The table below presents the estimated fair value and carrying value of financial assets and liabilities.

Carrying value   
As at 31 

As at 31
December 2009  December 2008  December 2009  December 2008
RMB million

RMB million 

RMB million 

RMB million 

As at 31 

As at 31 

Estimated fair value

Held-to-maturity securities 
Loans 
Term deposits (excluding structured deposits) 
Structured deposits 
Statutory deposits-restricted 
Available-for-sale securities 
Securities at fair value through income  
Cash and cash equivalents 
Investment contracts 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 

235,099  
23,081  
 344,710  
 273  
 6,153  
 517,499  
 9,133  
 36,197  
(67,326) 
 (33,553) 

211,929 
17,926 
225,367 
2,905 
6,153 
424,939 
14,099 
34,085 
(65,063) 
 (11,390) 

 235,668 
 23,081  
344,710  
272  
 6,153  
 517,499  
 9,133  
 36,197  
(66,184)  
 (33,553) 

228,598
17,926
225,367
2,887
6,153
424,939
14,099
34,085
(63,878) 
 (11,390)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

152

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

10  PREMIUMS RECEIVABLE

The aging of premiums receivable is within 12 months.

11  REINSURANCE ASSETS

Group and Company

Long-term insurance contracts ceded (Note 13) 
Due from reinsurance companies  
Ceded unearned premiums (Note 13) 
Claims recoverable from reinsurers (Note 13)  

Total  

Current 
Non-current 

Total  

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million  

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

701 
17 
83 
31 

832 

131 
701 

832 

700 
163 
58 
19 

940 

240 
700 

940 

658
399
38
16

1,111

453
658

1,111

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

153

12  OTHER ASSETS

Group

Land use rights 
Due from CLIC (Note 29(f)) 
Deposits on fund units pending issuance/
receivables on funds units redeemed 

Advances 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total  

Company

Land use rights 
Due from CLIC (Note 29(f)) 
Deposits on fund units pending issuance/
receivables on funds units redeemed 

Advances 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total  

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million  

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

3,279 
646 

300 
302 
1,790 

6,317 

2,471  
3,846  

2,667 
684 

– 
273 
1,333 

4,957 

1,720  
3,237  

6,317 

4,957 

2,606
739

500
206
939

4,990

2,122
2,868

4,990

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million  

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

3,279 
616 

300 
301 
1,740 

6,236 

2,421  
3,815  

6,236 

2,667 
657 

– 
273 
1,348 

4,945 

1,730 
3,215 

4,945 

2,606
730

500
206
910

4,952

2,091 
2,861 

4,952

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

154

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

13 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS

(a)  Process used to decide on assumptions

(i) 

For  the  insurance  contracts  of  which  future  returns  are  affected  by  the  investment  yields  of 
corresponding  investment  portfolios,  investment  return  assumptions  are  applied  as  discount  rates  to 
assess the time value impacts on reserve computation.

In  developing  discount  rate  assumptions,  the  Group  considers  investment  experience,  current 
and  future  investment  portfolio  and  trend  of  the  yield  curve.  The  discount  rate  reflects  the  future 
economic outlook as well as the company’s investment strategy. The assumed discount rate with risk 
margin for the past two years are as follows:

As at 31 December 2008 
As at 31 December 2009 

Discount rate assumptions

3.50% – 5.00%
4.40% – 5.00%

For  the  insurance  contracts  of  which  the  future  returns  are  not  affected  by  the  investment  yields  of 
the  corresponding  investment  portfolios,  the  Group  use  discount  rate  assumption  to  assess  the  time 
value  impacts  based  on  the  “yield  curve  of  reserve  computation  benchmark  for  insurance  contracts”, 
published  on  “China  Bond”  website,  with  the  consideration  includes  the  liquidity  spreads,  taxation 
impacts and other relevant factors. The assumed discount rate with risk margin for the past two years 
are as follows:

As at 31 December 2008 
As at 31 December 2009 

Discount rate assumptions

2.81% – 4.95%
2.69% – 5.32%

The  discount  rate  assumption  is  affected  by  certain  factors,  such  as  future  macro-economy,  fiscal 
policies,  capital  market  and  availability  of  investment  channel  of  insurance  funds.  The  Group 
determines discount rate assumption based on the information obtained at the end of each reporting 
period including consideration of risk margin.

 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

155

13 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS (continued)

(a)  Process used to decide on assumptions (continued)

(ii)  The mortality and morbidity assumptions are based on the Group’s historical mortality and morbidity 
experience.  The  assumed  mortality  rates  and  morbidity  rates  are  varying  by  age  of  the  insured  and 
contract type.

The  Group  bases  its  mortality  assumptions  on  China  Life  Insurance  Mortality  Table  (2000-2003), 
adjusted  where  appropriate  to  reflect  the  Group’s  recent  historical  mortality  experience.  The  main 
source  of  uncertainty  with  life  insurance  contracts  is  that  epidemics  and  wide-ranging  lifestyle 
changes  could  result  in  deterioration  in  future  mortality  experience,  thus  leading  to  an  inadequate 
liability.  Similarly,  continuing  advancements  in  medical  care  and  social  conditions  could  result  in 
improvements  in  longevity  that  exceed  those  allowed  for  in  the  estimates  used  to  determine  the 
liability for contracts where the Group is exposed to longevity risk.

The  Group  bases  its  morbidity  assumptions  for  critical  illness  products  on  analysis  of  historical 
experience and expectations of future developments. There are two main sources of uncertainty. First, 
wide-ranging  lifestyle  changes  could  result  in  future  deterioration  in  morbidity  experience.  Second, 
future  development  of  medical  technologies  and  improved  coverage  of  medical  facilities  available 
to  policyholders  may  bring  forward  the  timing  of  diagnosing  critical  illness,  which  demands  earlier 
payment  of  the  critical  illness  benefits.  Both  could  ultimately  result  in  an  inadequate  liability  if 
current morbidity assumptions do not properly reflect such secular trends.

Risk margin is considered in the Group’s mortality and morbidity assumptions.

(iii)  The expense assumption has been based on expected unit costs with the consideration of risk margin. 
Unit costs have been based on an analysis of actual experience and expressed on both a per-policy and 
a  percent-of-premium  basis.  The  Group’s  expense  assumption  is  effected  by  certain  factors,  such  as 
inflation, market competition and other factors. The Group determines expense assumption based on 
the information obtained at the end of each reporting period with the consideration of risk margin. 

Individual Life 

Group Life

RMB Per Policy 

% of Premium 

RMB Per Policy 

% of Premium

As at 31 December 2008 
As at 31 December 2009 

22.5 – 33.0 
26.3 – 38.5 

1.59% – 1.74% 
1.05% – 1.17% 

9.7 
11.3 

1.54%
1.01%

(iv)  The lapse rates and other assumptions are effected by certain factors, such as future macro-economy, 
availability of financial substitutions, market competition and other factors, which brings uncertainty 
to  lapse  rate  and  other  assumptions.  The  lapse  rates  and  other  assumptions  are  determined  with 
reference  to  past  experience  where  creditable,  current  conditions,  future  expectations  and  other 
information obtained at the end of each reporting period with consideration of risk margin.

The  Group  did  not  change  its  process  used  to  decide  on  assumptions  for  the  insurance  contracts 
disclosed in this note.

 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

156

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

13 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS (continued)

(b)  Net liabilities of insurance contracts 

Group and Company

Gross
Long-term insurance contracts 
Short-term insurance contracts
  – claims and claim adjustment expenses 
  – unearned premiums 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

809,223 

654,848 

520,158

2,944 
5,997 

2,780 
5,237 

2,455
4,894

Total, gross 

818,164 

662,865 

527,507

Recoverable from reinsurers
Long-term insurance contracts (Note 11) 
Short-term insurance contracts
  – claims and claim adjustment expenses (Note 11) 
  – unearned premiums (Note 11) 

Total, ceded 

Net
Long-term insurance contracts 
Short-term insurance contracts
  – claims and claim adjustment expenses 
  – unearned premiums 

(701) 

(31) 
(83) 

(815) 

(700) 

(19) 
(58) 

(777) 

(658)

(16)
(38)

(712)

808,522 

654,148 

519,500

2,913 
5,914 

2,761 
5,179 

2,439
4,856

Total, net 

817,349 

662,088 

526,795

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

157

13 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS (continued)

(c)  Movements in liabilities of short-term insurance contracts

The table below presents movement of reserves of claims and claim adjustment expenses:

Group and Company

– Notified claims 
– Incurred but not reported 

Total as at 1 January – Gross 

Cash paid for claims settled in year
  – Cash paid for current year claims 
  – Cash paid for prior year claims 
Claims incurred in year 
  – Claims arising in current year 
  – Claims arising in prior year 

Total as at 31 December – Gross 

– Notified claims 
– Incurred but not reported 

Total as at 31 December – Gross 

2009 
RMB million  

2008
RMB million

352 
2,428 

2,780 

(5,478) 
(2,274) 

7,951 
(35) 

2,944 

228 
2,716 

2,944 

378
2,077

2,455

(5,124)
(2,256)

7,842
(137)

2,780

352
2,428

2,780

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

158

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

13 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS (continued)

(c)  Movements in liabilities of short-term insurance contracts (continued)

The table below presents movement of unearned premium reserves:

Group and Company

As at 1 January 
Increase 
Release 

2009 
RMB million 
Ceded 

Net 

Gross 

2008
RMB million
Ceded 

(58) 
(83) 
58 

5,179 
5,914 
(5,179) 

4,894 
5,237 
(4,894) 

(38) 
(58) 
38 

Gross 

5,237 
5,997 
(5,237) 

Net

4,856
5,179
(4,856)

As at 31 December 

5,997 

(83) 

5,914 

5,237 

(58) 

5,179

(d)  Movements in liabilities of long-term insurance contracts

The table below presents movement in the liabilities of insurance contracts:

Group and Company

As at 1 January 

Premiums 
Release of liabilities 
Accretion of interest 
Change in assumptions  
Other movements 

As at 31 December 

(i) 

2009 
RMB million  

2008
RMB million

 654,848  

 520,158 

 261,905  
(127,472) 
 26,834  
 (8,085) 
 1,193  

 252,470 
(140,281)
 24,414 
 (3,720)
 1,807 

 809,223  

 654,848 

(i) 

The release of liabilities mainly consists of payments for death or other termination and related expenses, release of 

residual margin and change of reserves for claims and claim adjustment expenses.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

159

14 

INVESTMENT CONTRACTS

Group and Company 

Investment Contracts with DPF 
Investment Contracts without DPF
  – At amortised cost 
  – Designated as at fair value through income 

As at 31 

As at 31 

December 2009 
RMB million 

December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1

January 2008
RMB million

50,219 

51,676 

48,961

17,055 
52 

13,374 
13 

4,463
–

Total 

67,326 

65,063 

53,424

The table below presents movement of investment contracts with DPF

As at 1 January 

Deposits received 
Deposits withdrawn and paid on death and other benefits 
Policy fees deducted from account balances 
Interest credited 

As at 31 December 

2009 
RMB million 

2008
RMB million

51,676 

48,961

10,061 
(12,488) 
(221) 
1,191 

19,472
(17,621)
(356)
1,220

50,219 

51,676

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

160

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

15  SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE

Group

Maturing:
  Within thirty days 
  After thirty but within ninety days 

Total 

Company

Maturing:
  Within thirty days 
  After thirty but within ninety days 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

25,326 
8,227 

11,390 
– 

33,553 

11,390 

100
–

100

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

24,800 
8,010 

11,200 
– 

32,810 

11,200 

100
–

100

The carrying values of debt securities pledged as collateral are as follows

Group

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

Debt securities pledged 

34,306 

12,048 

Total 

Company

34,306 

12,048 

99

99

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

Debt securities pledged 

33,557 

11,849 

Total 

33,557 

11,849 

99

99

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

161

16  OTHER LIABILITIES

Group

Salary and staff welfare payable 
Commission and brokerage payable 
Agent deposits 
Tax payable 
Payable to constructors 
Stock appreciation rights (Note 27) 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

Company

Salary and staff welfare payable 
Commission and brokerage payable 
Agent deposits 
Tax payable 
Payable to constructors 
Stock appreciation rights (Note 27) 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

2,892 
1,320 
659 
356 
317 
1,555 
4,879 

2,936 
1,654 
632 
284 
308 
716 
4,527 

1,973
1,134
811
739
293
1,290
3,895

11,978 

11,057 

10,135

11,978 
– 

11,057 
– 

10,135
–

11,978 

11,057 

10,135

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

2,732 
1,320 
659 
346 
316 
1,555 
4,874 

2,790 
1,654 
632 
278 
308 
716 
4,559 

11,802 

10,937 

11,802 
– 

10,937 
– 

11,802 

10,937 

1,855
1,131
811
732
285
1,290
3,876

9,980

9,980
–

9,980

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

162

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

17  STATUTORY INSURANCE FUND

As  required  by  CIRC  Order  [2008]  No.  2,  all  insurance  companies  have  to  pay  statutory  insurance  fund 
contribution  to  the  CIRC  since  1  January  2009.  The  Group  is  subject  to  statutory  insurance  fund  contribution, 
(i)  at  0.15%  and  0.05%  of  premiums  and  accumulated  policyholder  deposits  from  life  policies  with  guaranteed 
benefits  and  life  policies  without  guaranteed  benefits,  respectively.  (ii)  at  0.8%  and  0.15%  of  premiums  from 
short-term  health  policies  and  long-term  health  policies,  respectively.  (iii)  at  0.8%  of  premiums  from  accident 
insurance contracts, at 0.08% and 0.05% of accumulated policyholder deposits from accident investment contracts 
with guaranteed benefits and without guaranteed benefits, respectively. When the accumulated statutory insurance 
fund  contributions  reach  1%  of  the  Group’s  total  assets,  no  additional  contribution  to  the  statutory  insurance 
fund is required.

For the year ended 31 December 2008, as required by CIRC Order [2004] No. 16, all insurance companies have 
to  pay  statutory  insurance  fund  contribution  to  the  CIRC.  The  Group  is  subject  to  statutory  insurance  fund 
contribution  at  1%,  0.15%  and  0.05%  of  net  premium  from  accident  and  short-term  health  policies,  long-term 
life policies with guaranteed benefits and long-term health policies and long-term life policies without guaranteed 
benefits, respectively. When the accumulated statutory insurance fund contributions reach 1% of the Group’s total 
assets, no additional contribution to the statutory insurance fund is required.

18 

INVESTMENT INCOME

Debt securities 

  – held-to-maturity securities 
  – available-for-sale securities 
  – at fair value through income 
Equity securities 

  – available-for-sale securities 
  – at fair value through income 
Bank deposits 
Loans 
Securities purchased under agreements to resell 

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

23,759 

9,882 
13,580 
297 
3,146 

3,108 
38 
10,805 
1,172 
8 

22,690

9,245
13,074
371
10,093

9,563
530
11,378
696
89

Total 

38,890 

44,946

Included in investment income is interest income of RMB 35,744 million (2008: RMB 34,853 million) using the 
effective interest method.

The investment income from listed and unlisted investment for the year ended 31 December 2009 are RMB 3,422 
million (2008: RMB 10,103 million) and RMB 23,483 million (2008: RMB 22,680 million) respectively.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

163

19  NET REALISED GAINS/(LOSSES) ON FINANCIAL ASSETS

Debt securities
  Net realised gains 
Impairments 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Net realised gains 
Impairments 

Subtotal 

Total 

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

3,146 
200 

3,346 

422
2,023

2,445

20,248 
(2,350) 

7,335
(15,744)

17,898 

(8,409)

21,244 

(5,964)

Net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets are from available-for-sale securities.

During the year ended 31 December 2009, the Company recognized impairment expense of RMB 2,350 million 
(2008:  RMB  15,744  million)  of  available-for-sale  securities  for  which  the  Company  determined  that  objective 
impairment evidence of impairment existed.

As  at  31  December  2008,  the  Company  held  RMB  400  million  available-for-sale  securities,  entrusted  to  Minfa, 
which had been impaired entirely due to Minfa’s bankruptcy. During the year, Minfa’s bankruptcy administrator 
according to the Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court’s final resolution ([2008] No.2-7) dated 31 December 2009 
granted the Company certain listed shares with total fair value of RMB 200 million as of 31 December 2009 as a 
first  distribution.  Consequently  the  Company  has  reversed  RMB  200  million  impaired  losses.  The  Company  has 
completed the ownership registration of these listed shares on 11 January 2010.

During  the  year  ended  31  December  2008,  RMB  2,023  million  of  previously  recognized  impairment  losses 
relating  to  certain  available-for-sale  debt  securities  decreased.  This  decrease  related  objectively  to  certain  events 
occurring after the impairment was recognized and as such the previously recognized impairment loss was reversed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

164

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

20  NET FAIR VALUE GAINS/(LOSSES) ON ASSETS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH INCOME

Debt securities 
Equity securities 

Total 

21 

INSURANCE BENEFITS AND CLAIMS

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

(277) 
1,726 

300
(7,494)

1,449 

(7,194)

Gross 
RMB million 

Ceded 
RMB million 

Net
RMB million

For the year ended 31 December 2009
Life insurance death and other benefits 
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contracts 

74,876 
7,909 
154,374 

(18) 
(101) 
(2) 

74,858
7,808
154,372

Total insurance benefits and claims 

237,159 

(121) 

237,038

For the year ended 31 December 2008
Life insurance death and other benefits 
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contracts 

89,677 
7,703 
134,690 

(18) 
(62) 
(41) 

89,659
7,641
134,649

Total insurance benefits and claims 

232,070 

(121) 

231,949

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

165

22 

INVESTMENT CONTRACT BENEFITS
Benefits of investment contract are mainly the interest credited to investment contracts and universal life contracts.

23  NET PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSES

Net profit before income tax expenses is stated after charging the following:

Employee salary and welfare cost 
Housing benefits 
Contribution to the defined contribution pension plan 
Depreciation and amortisation 
Interest expenses on securities sold under the agreements to repurchase 
Exchange loss 
Auditor’s remuneration 

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

7,773 
472 
1,182 
1,560 
111 
28 
71 

5,089
336
873
1,358
438
907
64

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

166

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

24  TAXATION

Deferred  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  offset  when  there  is  a  legally  enforceable  right  to  offset  current  tax 
assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income tax relate to the same fiscal authority.

(a)  The amount of taxation charged to the net profit represents

Current taxation – Enterprise income tax 
Deferred taxation 

Taxation charges 

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

6,299 
2,410 

8,709 

2,078
(1,393)

685

(b)  The reconciliation between the Group’s effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate of 25% in the PRC (for 

the year ended 31 December 2008: 25%) is as follows:

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

Net profit before income tax expenses 

41,745 

19,959

Tax computed at the statutory tax rate 
Non-taxable income 
Additional tax liability from expenses
  not deductible for tax purposes 
Unused tax losses 
Other 

Income taxes at effective tax rate 

(i) 

(i) 

10,436 
(2,627) 

520 
25 
355 

8,709 

4,990
(4,524)

196
23
–

685

(i) 

Non-taxable income mainly includes interest income from government bonds and fund distribution. Expenses not 

deductible  for  tax  purposes  mainly  include  commission,  brokerage  and  donation  expenses  in  excess  of  deductible 

amounts as allowed by relevant tax regulations.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

167

24  TAXATION (continued)

(c)  The movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year is as follows:

As at 31 December 2009, deferred income taxation is calculated in full on temporary differences under the 
liability method using a principal taxation rate of 25%.

Deferred tax

Group 

Insurance 
RMB million 
(i) 

Investment 
RMB million 
(ii) 

Others 
RMB million 
(iii)

Total
RMB million

As at 1 January 2008 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other
  comprehensive income 
   – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Others 

(2,372) 
(4,154) 

(2,926) 
– 
(2,926) 

(20,625) 
4,966 

14,186 
14,186 
– 

As at 31 December 2008 

(9,452) 

(1,473) 

As at 1 January 2009 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other
  comprehensive income 
   – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Others 

(9,452) 
(79) 

1,000 
– 
1,000 

(1,473) 
(2,404) 

(4,607) 
(4,607) 
– 

– 
581 

– 
– 
– 

581 

581 
73 

– 
– 
– 

(22,997)
1,393

11,260
14,186
(2,926)

(10,344)

(10,344)
(2,410)

(3,607)
(4,607)
1,000

As at 31 December 2009 

(8,531) 

(8,484) 

654 

(16,361)

(i) 

The  deferred  tax  arising  from  the  insurance  is  mainly  related  to  the  temporary  difference  of  short  duration 

insurance  contracts  liabilities,  policyholder  dividend  payables  and  impacts  of  adoption  of  MoF  new  guidance  as 

disclosed in Note 2.1;

(ii) 

The  deferred  tax  arising  from  the  investments  is  mainly  related  to  the  temporary  difference  of  unrealised  gains/

(losses) of available-for-sale securities and securities at fair value through income;

(iii)  The  deferred  tax  arising  from  others  is  mainly  related  to  the  temporary  difference  of  employee  salary  and  welfare 

cost payables.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

168

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

24  TAXATION (continued)

(c)  The movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year is as follows (continued):

Group

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

Deferred tax assets:
  – deferred tax assets to be recovered 
  after more than 12 months 

  – deferred tax assets to be recovered within 12 months 

Subtotal 

Deferred tax liabilities:
  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled 
  after more than 12 months 

  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled within 12 months 

6,063 
592 

6,655 

7,115 
540 

7,655 

7,276
1,046

8,322

(22,668) 
(348) 

(17,651) 
(348) 

(31,023)
(296)

Subtotal 

(23,016) 

(17,999) 

(31,319)

Total net deferred income tax liabilities 

(16,361) 

(10,344) 

(22,997)

Deferred tax

Company 

Insurance 
RMB million 

Investment 
RMB million 

Others 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

As at 1 January 2008 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other
  comprehensive income 
   – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Others 

(2,372) 
(4,154) 

(2,926) 
– 
(2,926) 

(20,582) 
4,957 

14,165 
14,165 
– 

As at 31 December 2008 

(9,452) 

(1,460) 

As at 1 January 2009 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other 
  comprehensive income 
   – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Others 

(9,452) 
(79) 

1,000 
– 
1,000 

(1,460) 
(2,398) 

(4,598) 
(4,598) 
– 

– 
561 

– 
– 
– 

561 

561 
49 

– 
– 
– 

(22,954)
1,364

11,239
14,165
(2,926)

(10,351)

(10,351)
(2,428)

(3,598)
(4,598)
1,000

As at 31 December 2009 

(8,531) 

(8,456) 

610 

(16,377)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

169

24  TAXATION (continued)

(c)  The movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year is as follows (continued):

Company

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 1
January 2008
RMB million

Deferred tax assets:
  – deferred tax assets to be recovered 
  after more than 12 months 

  – deferred tax assets to be recovered within 12 months 

Subtotal 

Deferred tax liabilities:
  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled 
  after more than 12 months 

  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled within 12 months 

6,020 
592 

6,612 

7,091 
540 

7,631 

7,277
1,046

8,323

(22,641) 
(348) 

(17,634) 
(348) 

(30,981)
(296)

Subtotal 

(22,989) 

(17,982) 

(31,277)

Total net deferred income tax liabilities 

(16,377) 

(10,351) 

(22,954)

25  NET PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY

The  net  profit  attributable  to  shareholders  of  the  Company  is  recognised  in  the  financial  statements  of  the 
Company to the extent of RMB 32,228 million (2008: RMB 19,216 million).

26  EARNINGS PER SHARE

There is no difference between basic and diluted earnings per share. The basic and diluted earnings per share for 
the year ended 31 December 2009 are based on the weighted average number of 28,264,705,000 ordinary shares 
(for the year ended 31 December 2008: 28,264,705,000).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

170

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

27  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

Stock  appreciation  rights  have  been  awarded  in  units,  with  each  unit  representing  the  value  of  one  H  share.  No 
shares of common stock will be issued under the stock appreciation rights plan. According to the Company’s plan, 
all stock appreciation rights will have an exercise period of five years from date of award and will not be exercisable 
before the fourth anniversary of the date of award unless specified market or other conditions have been met. The 
exercise  price  of  stock  appreciation  rights  will  be  the  average  closing  price  of  the  shares  in  the  five  trading  days 
prior  to  the  date  of  the  award.  Upon  the  exercise  of  stock  appreciation  rights,  exercising  recipients  will  receive 
payments  in  RMB,  subject  to  any  withholding  tax,  equal  to  the  number  of  stock  appreciation  rights  exercised 
times the difference between the exercise price and market price of the H shares at the time of exercise.

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  approved,  on  5  January  2006,  an  award  of  stock  appreciation  rights  of 
4.05  million  units  and  on  21  August  2006,  another  award  of  stock  appreciation  rights  of  53.22  million  units  to 
eligible  employees.  The  exercise  prices  of  the  two  awards  were  HK$5.33  and  HK$6.83,  respectively,  the  average 
closing  price  of  shares  in  the  five  trading  days  prior  to  1  July  2005  and  1  January  2006,  the  dates  for  vesting 
and  exercise  price  setting  purposes  of  this  award.  No  stock  appreciation  right  was  exercised,  forfeited  or  expired 
in  2009.  As  at  31  December  2009,  there  are  55.71  million  units  outstanding  (as  at  31  December  2008:  55.71 
million) and 55.71 million units exercisable (as at 31 December 2008: 55.71 million). As at 31 December 2009, 
the  amount  of  intrinsic  value  for  the  vested  stock  appreciation  rights  is  RMB  1,551  million  (as  at  31  December 
2008: RMB 826 million).

The  fair  value  of  the  stock  appreciation  rights  is  estimated  on  the  date  of  valuation  using  lattice-based  option 
valuation  models  based  on  expected  volatility  from  60%  to  70%,  an  expected  dividend  yield  of  no  higher  than 
0.5% and risk-free interest rate from 0.2% to 0.3%.

As  at  31  December  2009,  the  Company  charged  compensation  cost  of  RMB  839  million  (as  at  31  December 
2008:  reversed  RMB  574  million)  which  was  included  in  net  profit.  RMB  1,542  million  and  RMB  13  million 
were  included  in  Salary  and  staff  welfare  payable  for  the  units  not  exercised  and  exercised  but  not  paid  as  at  31 
December 2009 (as at 31 December 2008: RMB 703 million and RMB 13 million respectively).

28  DIVIDENDS

Pursuant to the shareholders’ approval at the Annual General Meeting in May 2009, a final dividend of RMB 0.23 
per ordinary share totalling RMB 6,501 million in respect of the year ended 31 December 2008 was declared and 
was paid in 2009. These dividends have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2009.

Pursuant to a resolution passed at the meeting of the Board of Directors on 7 April 2010, a final dividend of RMB 
0.70  per  ordinary  share  totalling  approximately  RMB  19,785  million  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2009  was 
proposed  for  shareholders’  approval  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting.  The  dividend  has  not  been  provided  in  the 
consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

171

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

(a)  Related parties where control exists

Refer to Note 34 for basic and related information of subsidiaries.

The information of parent company is as follows:

Name 

CLIC 

Location of 
 registration 

Beijing, China 

Principal business 

Life insurance, health and accident 
insurance and other types of personal insurance 
and reinsurance. Funds management business 
under permission of national laws and regulations 
or State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
Various types of personal insurance, Consulting
and agency services. Other business under approvals
by National Insurance Supervisors department’s

Nature of 
economic 

Legal
Representative

State owned 

Chao Yang

Relationship
with the 
company 

Immediate 
and ultimate
holding
company

(b)  Registered capital and changes for related parties where control exists

Name of related party 

CLIC 
China Life Asset Management
  Company Limited (“AMC”) 
China Life Pension Company
  Limited (“Pension Company”) 
China Life Franklin Asset
  Management Co,
  Limited (“AMC HK”) 

As at 31 
 December 2008 
RMB million 

Increase 
RMB million 

Decrease 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2009
RMB million

4,600 

1,000 

2,500 

HK$ 60 million 

– 

2,000 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

4,600

3,000

2,500

– 

HK$ 60 million

Note:  In  February  2009,  the  Company,  AMC  and  CLIC  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  AMC’s  registered  capital 

increased  to  RMB  2,000  million.  The  Company  subscribed  for  RMB  1,200  million,  in  the  form  of  RMB  1,080 

million cash and RMB 120 million retained earnings. CLIC subscribed for RMB 800 million, in the form of RMB 

720 million cash and RMB 80 million retained earnings. CIRC approved the change of registered capital in April 

2009.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

172

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(c)  Shares held and the changes for related parties where control exists

Shareholder 

CLIC 

Subsidiaries 

AMC 
Pension Company 

As at 31 
 December 2008 

Percentage 
of holding 

Amount 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2009

Increase 
RMB million 

Decrease 
RMB million 

 Amount 
RMB million 

Percentage
of holding

19,324 

68.4% 

– 

– 

19,324 

68.4%

As at 31 
 December 2008 

As at 31
December 2009

Amount 
RMB million 

600 
2,305 

Percentage 
of holding 

60.0% directly 
92.2% directly 
and indirectly 
50.0% indirectly 

Increase 
RMB million 

Decrease 
RMB million 

 Amount 
RMB million 

Percentage
of holding

1,080 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

1,680 
2,305 

HK$ 30 million 

60.0% directly
92.2% directly
and indirectly
50.0% indirectly

AMC HK 

HK$ 30 million 

(d)  Related parties

Related  parties  are  those  parties  which  have  the  ability,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  control  the  other  party  or 
exercise  significant  influence  over  the  other  party  in  making  financial  and  operating  decisions.  Parties  are 
also  considered  to  be  related  if  they  are  subject  to  common  control  or  common  significant  influence.  The 
table set forth below summarises the names of significant related parties and nature of relationship with the 
Company as at 31 December 2009:

Significant related party

Relationship with the Company

CLIC
AMC
GDB
CLP&C

Pension Company
China Life Real Estate Co., Limited (“CLRE”, 
former  Beijing  Zhongbaoxin  Real  Estate 
Development Co., Limited)

The ultimate holding company
A subsidiary of the Company
An associate of the Company
An associate of the Company and under common control 

of the ultimate holding company

A subsidiary of the Company
A  subsidiary  of  a  subsidiary  of  the  ultimate  holding 

company

China  Life  Insurance  (Overseas)  Co.,  Limited 

Under common control of the ultimate holding company

(“China Life Overseas”)

AMC HK
CIB
China  Life  Investment  Holding  Company 

A subsidiary of a subsidiary of the Company
An associate of the Company
Under common control of the ultimate holding company

Limited (“IHC”)

Chengdu Insurance Institution
China Life Enterprise Annuity Fund (“EAP”)

Under common control of the ultimate holding company
A  pension  fund  operated  for  the  benefit  of  employees  in 

the Company and AMC

Note:   In  July  2009,  CLIC,  the  Company  and  the  AMC  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  they  agreed  to  establish  a 

defined contribution enterprise annuity fund for their employees.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

173

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties

The following table summarises significant transactions carried out by the Group with its significant related 
parties for the year ended 31 December 2009.

Transactions with CLIC and its subsidiaries
  Policy management fee income earned from CLIC 
  Asset management fee earned from CLIC 
  Additional capital contribution to AMC from CLIC 
  Rewards from CLIC for non-transferred policies 
  Dividends to CLIC 
  Property leasing expense charged by CLIC 
  Dividends to CLIC from AMC 
  Non-performing assets management
fee earned from CLIC and others 

  Asset management fee earned from China Life Overseas 
  Asset management fee earned from CLP&C 
  Property insurance payments to CLP&C 
  Claim payment and others to the Company from CLP&C 
  Brokerage fee from CLP&C 
  Additional capital contribution to CLP&C 
  Rentals and policy management

fee income earned from CLP&C 

  Rentals, project payments and others to CLRE 
  Property leasing expense charged by IHC 
  Asset management fee earned from IHC 
  Services fee and other income earned from IHC 
  Asset purchase payments to Chengdu Insurance Institution 

Transaction with GDB

Interest income earned from GDB 

  Brokerage fee charged by GDB 
  Dividends from GDB 

Transaction with EAP
  Payment to EAP 

Note 

(i) 
(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(ii) 
(ii) 

(v) 
(vi) 

(vii) 
(iv) 

(viii) 

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

1,193 
112 
720 
– 
4,444 
– 
104 

– 
15 
3 
37 
41 
129 
– 

36 
8 
64 
7 
30 
19 

309 
20 
55 

298 

1,298
243
–
88
8,116
33
93

16
15
2
29
46
79
1,200

–
18
33
21
–
–

361
25
–

–

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

174

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

Transaction with AMC
  Asset management fee expense charged to the Company

  by AMC 

  Dividends to the Company 
  Payments of insurance policies by AMC to the Company 
  Brokerage fee to the Company 
  Additional capital contribution to AMC 

Transaction with Pension Company
  Additional capital contribution to Pension Company 
  Surcharge on building sold to Pension Company 
  Expenses paid on behalf of Pension Company 

IT services fee income earned from Pension Company 
Investment brokerage fee charged by the Company 

  Brokerage fee to the Company 

Transaction with AMC HK

Investment management fee expense charged to the Company
  by AMC HK 

Note:

Note 

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

(ii) 

(ix) 

(x) 
(xi) 

(ix) 

540 
156 
1 
5 
1,080 

– 
244 
86 
2 
2 
3 

362
140
1
1
–

1,855
–
79
–
–
1

(ii) 

8 

7

(i) 

As  part  of  the  restructuring,  CLIC  transferred  its  entire  branch  services  network  to  the  Company.  CLIC  and 

the  Company  have  entered  into  an  agreement  on  24  December  2005  to  engage  the  Company  to  provide  policy 

administration services to CLIC relating to the non-transferred policies. The Company, as a service provider, does 

not acquire any rights or assume any obligations as an insurer under the non-transferred policies. In consideration 

of  the  services  provided  under  the  agreement,  CLIC  will  pay  the  Company  a  policy  management  fee  based  on 

the  estimated  cost  of  providing  the  services,  to  which  a  profit  margin  is  added.  The  policy  management  fee  is 

equal  to,  for  each  semi-annual  payment  period,  the  sum  of  (1)  the  number  of  non-transferred  policies  in  force 

that  were  within  their  policy  term  as  at  the  last  day  of  the  period,  multiplied  by  RMB8.00  per  policy  and  (2) 

2.50% of the actual premiums and deposits in respect of such policies collected during the period. The agreement 

would  be  automatically  renewed  for  a  three  year  term  subject  to  compliance  with  the  Stock  Exchange  regulations 

unless  a  written  notice  of  non  renewal  is  issued  by  the  Company  or  the  Group  180  days  prior  to  the  expiration 

of the contract or the renewed term. The Company and the Group could modify term of policy management fee 

based  on  the  current  market  terms  when  renewing  the  contract.  Otherwise,  the  original  fee  term  would  apply. 

On  30  December  2008,  the  Company  and  CLIC  signed  a  renewal  agreement  to  extend  the  contract  signed  on 

24  December  2005  to  31  December  2011,  with  all  the  terms  unchanged.  The  policy  management  fee  income  is 

included in other income in consolidated statement of comprehensive income statement.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

175

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

Note: (continued)

(ii) 

In December 2005, CLIC and the AMC have entered into an agreement, whereby CLIC agreed to pay the AMC 

a  service  fee  at  the  rate  of  0.05%  per  annum.  The  service  fee  was  calculated  and  payable  on  a  monthly  basis, 

by  multiplying  the  average  of  balance  of  book  value  of  the  assets  under  management  (after  deducting  the  funds 

obtained and interests accrued from repurchase transactions) at the beginning and at the end of any given month 

by  the  rate  of  0.05%,  divided  by  12.  Such  rate  was  determined  with  reference  to  the  applicable  management  fee 

rate pre-determined for each specified category of assets managed by the- AMC to arrive at a comprehensive service 

fee rate. On 30 December 2008, CLIC and AMC signed a renewal agreement, which expanded the effective period 

of the original agreement to 31 December 2011. The service fee is calculated in the same way of original agreement 

and would be adjusted according to the performance.

In  December  2005,  the  Company  and  the  AMC  have  entered  into  a  separate  agreement,  whereby  the  Company 

agreed to pay the AMC a fixed service fee and a variable service fee. The fixed service fee is payable monthly and 

is calculated with reference to the net asset value of the assets in each specified category managed by the AMC and 

the  applicable  management  fee  rates  pre-determined  by  the  parties  on  an  arm’s  length  basis.  The  variable  service 

fee  equals  to  10%  of  the  fixed  service  fee  per  annum  payable  annually.  The  service  fees  were  determined  by  the 

Company and the AMC based on an analysis of the cost of service, market practice and the size and composition of 

the asset pool to be managed. On 30 December 2008, the Company and AMC signed a renewal agreement, which 

expanded the effective period of the original agreement to 31 December 2010. The variable service fee changes to 

20% of the fixed service fee per annum payable annually and is adjusted according to the performance.

In  March  2007,  CLP&C  and  the  AMC  have  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  CLP&C  agreed  to  pay  the 

AMC  a  fixed  service  fee  and  a  variable  service  fee.  The  agreement  expired  in  December  2008.  In  2009,  CLP&C 

and  the  AMC  signed  a  new  agreement,  with  effective  period  to  31  December  2010.  The  agreement  is  subject  to 

an  automatic  renewal  for  one  year  if  there  is  no  objection  between  both  parities  when  expired.  According  to  the 

agreement, the fixed service fee is payable monthly and the service fee is calculated and payable on a monthly basis, 

by  multiplying  the  average  of  balance  of  book  value  of  the  assets  under  management  at  the  beginning  and  at  the 

end of any given month by the rate of 0.05%, divided by 12. The variable service fee is adjusted according to the 

investment performance.

In  September  2007,  China  Life  Overseas  and  the  AMC  HK  have  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  China  Life 

Overseas  agreed  to  pay  the  AMC  HK  a  management  service  fee  at  a  basis  rate  and  calculated  based  on  actual  net 

investment  return  yield.  In  2009,  China  Life  Overseas  and  the  AMC  HK  signed  a  renewal  agreement,  which 

expanded the effective period of the original agreement to 31 December 2009.

In April 2007, Pension Company and the AMC have entered into an agreement, whereby Pension Company agreed 

to pay the AMC a fixed service fee and a bonus for excess return per annum. The agreement expired in December 

2008.  In  2009,  Pension  Company  and  AMC  signed  a  new  agreement  with  effective  period  to  31  December 

2009. The agreement is subject to an automatic renewal for one year if there is no objection between both parties 

when  expired.  According  to  the  agreement,  the  fixed  service  fee  is  calculated  and  payable  on  a  monthly  basis,  by 

multiplying the average of balance of book value of the assets under management at the beginning and at the end 

of any given month by the rate of 0.05%, divided by 12. The bonus equals to 10% of the excess return per annum 

payable annually.

 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

176

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

Note: (continued)

In  May  2008,  the  Company  and  the  AMC  HK  have  entered  into  a  “Offshore  Investment  Management  Service 

Agreement  for  Entrusted  Fund”,  whereby  the  Company  agreed  to  pay  AMC  HK  Primary  and  Secondary  Market 

asset management fee. The fixed asset management fee is calculated on a monthly basis, and paid quarterly. Asset 

management fee for the Primary market is calculated on a rate of 2% of the total investment realised gains. Asset 

management fee for the Secondary market is calculated by a fixed rate of 0.45%.

The asset management fee charged to the Company and Pension Company by AMC and AMC HK is eliminated in 

the consolidated statement of comprehensive income statement.

(iii)  The Company assisted CLIC to mitigate business risk arising from non-transferred policies, and received in 2008 a 

fee income of RMB 88 million from CLIC as the reward for such non-transferrable policies.

(iv) 

In January 2007, the Company has entered into a property leasing agreement with CLIC, pursuant to which CLIC 

agreed to lease to the Company some of its owned and leased buildings. The annual rent payable by the Company 

to CLIC in relation to the CLIC owned properties is determined by reference to market rent or, the costs incurred 

by CLIC in holding and maintaining the properties, plus a margin of approximately 5%. The annual rent payable 

by the Company to CLIC in relation to the CLIC leased properties is determined by reference to the rent payable 

under  the  head  lease  plus  the  actual  costs  incurred  by  CLIC  arising  in  connection  with  the  subletting  of  the 

properties. The Company has directly paid the relevant rental expenses raised from CLIC leased properties to the 

third-party instead of CLIC. The rental was payed on a semi annual basis and the rent of the buildings subleased by 

CLIC was payed directly to the owner. The agreement will expire on December 2009.

In  November  2008,  the  Company,  CLIC  and  IHC  entered  into  a  property  leasing  transfer  agreement.  According 

to the agreement, CLIC has effectively transferred the rights and obligations of the property leasing agreement to 

IHC in June 2008. Apart from the transfer of the rights and obligations, the terms of the original property leasing 

agreement remains unchanged.

(v) 

In  November  2008,  the  Company  and  CLP&C  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  CLP&C  entrusted  the 

Company to act as an agent to sell appointed insurance products in authorized areas. The service fee is determined 

according to cost (tax included) added marginal profit.

(vi) 

In  May  2008,  the  Company  and  CLP&C  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  CLP&C’s  share  capital  would 

increase  to  RMB3,000  million,  of  which  the  Company  subscribed  for  RMB1,200  million.  The  subscription  has 

been paid on 26 May 2008. CIRC approved the change of registered capital of CLP&C on 6 July 2008.

(vii)  The  Group  made  certain  project  payments  to  third  parties  through  CLRE  and  paid  other  miscellaneous 

expenditures mainly comprised of rentals and deposits to CLRE.

(viii)  In  April  2007,  the  Company  and  GDB  entered  into  a  five  year  individual  bank  insurance  agency  agreement.  All 

insurance  products  suitable  for  delivery  through  bank  channels  are  involved  in  the  agreement.  GDB  will  provide 

services,  including  selling  insurance  products,  receiving  premiums,  paying  benefits.  The  company  has  agreed  to 

pay  commission  fees  as  follows:  1)  A  monthly  service  fee,  calculated  on  a  monthly  basis,  by  multiplying  total 

premium received and a fixed commission rate; or 2) A monthly commission fee, calculated on a monthly basis, by 

multiplying number of policy being handled and fixed commission rate which is not more than RMB1 per policy, 

where GDB handles premiums receipts and benefits payments. The agreement will expire in five years.

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

177

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

Note: (continued)

(ix) 

In  November  2007,  the  Company  and  Pension  Company  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  Pension  Company 

entrusted the Company to sale enterprise annuity funds and provide customer service. The service fee is calculated 

on  a  rate  of  80%  of  first  year  management  fee.  The  agreement  term  is  one  year  and  is  subject  to  an  automatic 

renewal for one year.

In  June  2007,  the  Company  and  AMC  entered  into  an  agreement,  whereby  AMC  entrusted  the  Company  to 

provide market developing service and enterprise annuity asset management service. The service fee is calculated by 

the first year actual asset management fee collected deducted by risk reserve and other related fees. The agreement 

expired on 31 December 2008.

(x) 

In  June  2008,  the  Company  and  China  Credit  Trust  Co.,  Ltd  (“CCTIC”)  made  capital  injection  to  Pension 

Company. Pension Company’s share capital was increased to RMB 2,500 million after the capital contribution. As 

a result, the ownership percentage of the Company, CLIC, AMC and CCTIC was 87.4%, 6.0%, 4.8% and 1.8%, 

respectively.

(xi)  The  Company  sold  certain  floors  of  the  office  building  which  is  under  construction  to  Pension  Company.  The 

Company received the payment from Pension Company in Feb 2009.

(f)  Amounts due from/to significant related parties

The  following  table  summarises  the  resulting  balance  due  from  and  to  significant  related  parties.  The 
balance is non-interest bearing, unsecured and has no fixed repayment terms except for the deposits in GDB.

The Group
  Amount due from CLIC (Note 12) 
  Amount due from China Life Overseas 
  Amount due from CLP&C 
  Amount due to CLP&C 
  Amount deposited with GDB 
  Amount due from CLRE 
  Amount due to CLRE 
  Amount due from IHC 
  Amount due to IHC 

The Company
  Amount due from Pension Company 
  Amount due to AMC 
  Amount due to AMC HK 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2008
RMB million

646 
15 
22 
(2) 
7,098 
– 
– 
34 
(64) 

56 
(43) 
(1) 

684
8
2
(28)
7,114
1
(8)
21
(33)

66
(68)
(2)

 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

178

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

29  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(g)  Key management compensation

Salaries and other short-term employee benefits 
Termination benefits 
Post-employment benefits 
Share-based payment 
Other long-term benefits 

Total 

For the year ended 31 December
2008
RMB million

2009 
RMB million 

13 
– 
– 
– 
– 

13 

24
–
–
–
–

24

(h)  Transactions with state-owned enterprises

Under  IAS  24(amendment),  business  transactions  between  state-owned  enterprises  controlled  by  the  PRC 
government are within the scope of related party transactions. CLIC, the ultimate holding company of the 
Group,  is  a  state-owned  enterprise.  The  Group’s  key  business  and  therefore  the  business  transactions  with 
other state-owned enterprises are primarily related to insurance and investment activities. The related party 
transactions  with  other  state-owned  enterprises  were  conducted  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business.  Due  to 
the  complex  ownership  structure,  the  PRC  government  may  hold  indirect  interests  in  many  companies. 
Some  of  these  interests  may,  in  themselves  or  when  combined  with  other  indirect  interests,  be  controlling 
interests  which  may  not  be  known  to  the  Group.  Nevertheless,  the  Group  believes  that  the  following 
captures the material related parties and applied IAS 24 (amendment) exemption to disclose only qualitative 
information.

As  at  31  December  2009  and  2008,  most  of  bank  deposits  were  with  state-owned  banks;  the  issuers  of 
corporate  bonds  and  subordinated  bonds  held  by  the  Group  were  mainly  state-owned  enterprises.  For  the 
year  ended  31  December  2008,  a  large  portion  of  its  group  insurance  business  of  the  Group  were  with 
state-owned  enterprises;  the  majority  of  bank  assurance  brokerage  charges  were  paid  to  state-owned  banks 
and  post  office;  almost  all  of  the  reinsurance  agreements  of  the  Group  are  entered  into  with  a  state-owned 
reinsurance company; most of bank deposit interest income were from state-owned banks.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

179

30  SHARE CAPITAL

Registered, authorized,
issued and fully paid

As at 31 
December 2009 

As at 31 
December 2008 

As at 1
January 2008

No. of shares 

RMB million 

No. of shares 

RMB million 

No. of shares 

RMB million

Ordinary shares of RMB1 each 

28,264,705,000 

28,265 

28,264,705,000 

28,265 

28,264,705,000 

28,265

As at 31 December 2009, the Company’s share capital is as follows:

Owned by CLIC (Note 36(i)) 
Owned by other shareholders 
Including: Domestic listed 
  Overseas listed 

Total 

As at 31 December 2009

No. of shares 

RMB million

19,323,530,000 
8,941,175,000 
1,500,000,000 
7,441,175,000 

19,324
8,941
1,500
7,441

28,264,705,000 

28,265

Overseas listed shares are traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and the New York Stock Exchange.

31  RESERVES

Group

Additional  

Unrealised 
paid in capital  gains/(losses) 
Total
RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million

General 
reserve 

Reserve 
fund 

Exchange 
  differences on 
translating 
foreign 
operations 

(a) 

(b) 

As at 1 January 2008 
Other comprehensive loss for the year 
Appropriation to reserve 

53,860 
– 
– 

43,509 
(33,452) 
– 

9,480 
– 
4,708 

As at 31 December 2008 

53,860 

10,057 

14,188 

Other comprehensive income for the year 
Appropriation to reserve 

– 
– 

10,745 
– 

– 
4,302 

As at 31 December 2009 

53,860 

20,802 

18,490 

4,427 
– 
1,916 

6,343 

– 
3,293 

9,636 

– 
(1) 
– 

(1) 

– 
– 

111,276
(33,453)
6,624

84,447

10,745
7,595

(1) 

102,787

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

180

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

31  RESERVES (continued)

Company

Additional  
Total
paid in capital 
RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million

Unrealised 
gains/(losses) 

General
reserve 

Reserve 
fund 

As at 1 January 2008 
Other comprehensive loss for the year 
Appropriation to reserve 

As at 31 December 2008 

Other comprehensive income for the year 
Appropriation to reserve 

(a) 

(b)

53,860 
– 
– 

53,860 

43,467 
(33,714) 
– 

9,432 
– 
4,708 

9,753 

14,140 

– 
– 

10,794 
– 

– 
4,302 

4,427 
– 
1,916 

6,343 

– 
3,293 

111,186
(33,714)
6,624

84,096

10,794
7,595

As at 31 December 2009 

53,860 

20,547 

18,442 

9,636 

102,485

(a)  Under relevant PRC law, the Company is required to transfer 10% of its net profit under CAS to statutory 
reserve  fund.  The  Company  appropriated  10%  of  net  profit  to  the  statutory  reserve  for  the  year  ended  31 
December  2009  and  2008,  RMB  3,293  million  and  RMB  1,916  million  respectively.  The  Company  also 
appropriated  RMB  2,992  million  to  the  statutory  reserve  fund  under  CAS  retrospectively  reflected  in  1 
January  2008  due  to  adoption  of  MoF  new  guidance  as  disclosed  in  Note  2.1.  In  May  2009,  approved  by 
Annual  General  Meeting,  the  Company  appropriated  RMB  1,009  million  to  discretionary  reserve  fund  for 
the  year  ended  31  December  2008  based  on  the  net  profit  under  A  share  financial  statement  (2008:  RMB 
2,792 million).

(b)  Pursuant  to  “Financial  Standards  of  Financial  Enterprises-Implementation  Guide”  issued  by  Ministry  of 
Finance of People’s Republic of China on 30 March 2007, for the year ended 31 December 2009 and 2008, 
the  Company  appropriated  10%  of  net  profit  under  CAS  which  is  RMB  3,293  million  and  RMB  1,916 
million  respectively  to  general  reserve  for  future  uncertain  disasters,  which  can  not  be  used  for  dividend 
distribution  or  share  capital  increment.  The  Company  also  appropriated  RMB  1,635  million  to  general 
reserve  under  CAS  retrospectively  reflected  in  1  January  2008  due  to  adoption  of  MoF  new  guidance  as 
disclosed in Note 2.1.

Under  related  PRC  law,  dividends  may  be  paid  only  out  of  distributable  profits.  Distributable  profits 
generally  means  the  Company’s  after-tax  profits  as  determined  under  accounting  standards  generally 
accepted  in  PRC  or  IFRS,  whichever  is  lower,  less  any  recovery  of  accumulated  losses  and  allocations 
to  statutory  funds  that  the  Company  is  required  to  make,  subject  to  further  regulatory  restrictions.  Any 
distributable  profits  that  are  not  distributed  in  a  given  year  are  retained  and  available  for  distribution  in 
subsequent years. The amount of distributable retained earnings based on the above is RMB 78,491 million 
as at 31 December 2009 (as at 31 December 2008: RMB 60,848 million).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

181

32  CONTINGENCIES

The following is a summary of the significant contingent liabilities:

Group 

Company

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2008
RMB million

Pending lawsuits 

113 

96 

113 

96

The Group has been named in a number of lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Provision has been 
made for the probable losses to the Group on those claims when management can reasonably estimate the outcome 
of  the  lawsuits  taking  into  account  the  legal  advice.  No  provision  has  been  made  for  pending  lawsuits  when  the 
outcome of the lawsuits cannot be reasonably estimated or management believes a loss is not probable.

33  COMMITMENTS

(a)  Capital commitments

i) 

Capital commitments for property, plant and equipment

Group 

Company

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2008
RMB million

Contracted but not provided for 

488 

878 

488 

620

ii) 

Capital commitments to acquire Bohai Venture Capital Fund

The  Group  committed  to  contribute  RMB  500  million  to  Bohai  Venture  Capital  Fund  to  Bohai 
Venture  Capital  Fund  Management  Company  of  which  RMB  245  million  had  been  paid  at  31 
December 2009. The remaining RMB 255 million will be paid when called.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

182

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

33  COMMITMENTS (continued)

(b)  Operating lease commitments

The future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Group 

Company

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2008 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2009 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2008
RMB million

Land and buildings
  Not later than one year 
  Later than one year but

  not later than five years 

  Later than five years 

Total 

297 

478 
49 

824 

238 

383 
44 

665 

287 

461 
49 

797 

232

381
44

657

The operating lease payments charged to the net profit for the year ended 31 December 2009 was RMB 593 
million (for the year ended 31 December 2008: RMB 482 million).

34 

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

Company

As at 31 December
2009 
RMB million 

2008
RMB million

Unlisted investments at cost 

3,865 

2,785

The  table  below  presents  the  basic  information  of  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  at  31  December  2009  (The 
following subsidiaries are in scope of consolidation):

Name 

AMC 

Place of 
incorporation 
and operation 

Percentage
of equity 
interest held 

Registered capital 

Principal
 activities

People’s Republic of China 

60% directly 

RMB 3,000 million 

Asset management

Pension Company 

People’s Republic of China 

92.20% directly 
  and indirectly

RMB 2,500 million 

Pension and annuity

AMC HK 

Hong Kong, China 

50% indirectly 

HKD 60 million 

Assent management

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

183

35  DIRECTORS’, SUPERVISORS’ AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT’S REMUNERATION

The  total  compensation  package  for  these  directors,  supervisors  and  senior  managements  for  the  year  ended  31 
December  2009  has  not  yet  been  finalised  in  accordance  with  regulations  of  the  PRC  relevant  authorities.  The 
amount  of  the  compensation  not  provided  for  is  not  expected  to  have  significant  impact  to  the  Group’s  2009 
financial statements. The final compensation will be disclosed in a separate announcement when determined.

(a)  Directors’ emoluments

The  aggregate  amounts  of  emoluments  paid  to  directors  of  the  Company  for  the  year  ended  31  December 
2009 are as follows:

 Remuneration  Inducement 
fees 
RMB 

 paid 
RMB 

Fee 
RMB 

Compensation 
for loss of office 
as director 
RMB 

Other 
benefits 
RMB 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
112,500 
112,500 
112,500 
157,500 

864,168 
929,600 
855,733 
855,733 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Total
RMB

864,168
929,600
855,733
855,733
–
–
–
–
–
–
112,500
112,500
112,500
157,500

Name 

Yang Chao 
Wan Feng 
Lin Dairen 
Liu Yingqi 
Miao Jianmin 
Shi Guoqing 
Zhuang Zuojin 
Sun Shuyi 
Ma Yongwei 
Sun Changji 
Zhou Dexi(a) 
Cai Rang(a) 
Wei Weifeng(a) 
Mo Boshi(b) 

Note:

(a) 

Resigned as independent director in 2008 annual general meeting, on 25 May 2009.

(b) 

Appointed as independent director in 2008 annual general meeting, on 25 May 2009.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

184

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

35  DIRECTORS’, SUPERVISORS’ AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT’S REMUNERATION 

(continued)

(a)  Directors’ emoluments (continued)

The  aggregate  amounts  of  emoluments  paid  to  directors  of  the  Company  for  the  year  ended  31  December 
2008 are as follows:

 Remuneration 
 paid 
RMB 

Fee 
RMB 

Inducement 
fees 
RMB 

Other 
benefits 
RMB 

Compensation 
for loss of office 
as director 
RMB 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
300,000 
320,000 
300,000 
320,000 
320,000 
320,000 

1,680,000 
1,600,000 
1,510,000 
1,510,000 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Total
RMB

1,680,000
1,600,000
1,510,000
1,510,000
–
–
–
300,000
320,000
300,000
320,000
320,000
320,000

Name 

Yang Chao 
Wan Feng 
Lin Dairen (a) 
Liu Yingqi (a) 
Miao Jianmin (a) 
Shi Guoqing 
Zhuang Zuojin 
Long Yongtu 
Sun Shuyi 
Ma Yongwei 
Chau Tak Hay 
Cai Rang 
Ngai Waifung 

Note:

(a) 

Appointed on 27 October 2008

In  addition  to  the  directors’  emoluments  disclosed  above,  certain  directors  of  the  Company  receive 
emoluments from CLIC, amount of which has not been apportioned between their services to the Company 
and their services to CLIC.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

185

35  DIRECTORS’, SUPERVISORS’ AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT’S REMUNERATION 

(continued)

(b)  Supervisors’ emoluments

The aggregate amounts of emoluments paid to supervisors of the Company for the year ended 31 December 
2009 are as follows:

Remuneration 
paid 
RMB 

Inducement 
fees 
RMB 

Other 
benefits 
RMB 

855,733 
337,283 
553,000 
322,583 
120,000 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Total
RMB

855,733
337,283
553,000
322,583
120,000

Name 

Xia Zhihua 
Shi Xiangming (a) 
Yang Hong 
Wang Xu (a) 
Tian Hui 

Note:

(a) 

Appointed on 25 May 2009

The aggregate amounts of emoluments paid to supervisors of the Company for the year ended 31 December 
2008 are as follows:

Name 

Xia Zhihua 
Wu Weimin 
Qing Ge 
Yang Hong 
Tian Hui 

Remuneration 
paid 
RMB 

Inducement 
fees 
RMB 

1,510,000 
800,000 
800,000 
790,000 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Other 
benefits 
RMB 

– 
– 
– 
– 
150,000 

Total
RMB

1,510,000
800,000
800,000
790,000
150,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

186

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2009

35  DIRECTORS’, SUPERVISORS’ AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT’S REMUNERATION 

(continued)

(c)  Five highest paid individuals

The five individuals whose emoluments were the highest in the Company include four (2008: four) directors 
whose emoluments are reflected in the analysis presented above.

Details of remuneration of the remaining one (2008: one) highest paid individuals are as follows:

2009 
RMB 

2008
RMB

Fees
  Basic salaries, housing allowances, and other allowances and benefits in kind 

2,928,442 

4,347,230

The emoluments fell within the following bands:

RMB2,000,000 – RMB3,000,000 
RMB4,000,000 – RMB4,500,001 
RMB6,000,000 – RMB6,500,000 

Number of individuals

2009 

2008

1 
– 
– 

–
1
–

No emoluments have been paid by the Company to the directors or any of the five highest paid individuals 
as an inducement to join or upon joining the Company or as compensation for loss of office.

36  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

(i)  The 36-month restriction of 19,323,530,000 ordinary shares held by the CLIC expired on 11 January 2010, 
of  which  19,173,530,000  shares  are  publically  traded  and  150,000,000  shares  are  frozen  due  to  regulatory 
requirement.

(ii)  On  27  December  2009,  the  Group  purchased  934  million  shares  of  Sino-Ocean  Land  Holdings  Limited 
(“Sino-ocean”,  a  HKSE  listed  company)  at  the  total  cost  of  HKD  5,819  million.  As  a  result  of  this 
acquisition,  the  Group  became  the  second  largest  shareholder  by  holding  16.57%  of  the  total  Sino-ocean 
shares outstanding.

On  12  January  2010,  the  Group  acquired  423  million  more  shares  of  Sino-ocean.  As  a  result  of  this 
acquisition, the Group became the largest shareholder by holding 24.08% equity interest of Sino-ocean.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Embedded Value

187

BACKGROUND
China Life Insurance Company Limited prepares financial statements to public investors in accordance with the relevant 
accounting standards. An alternative measure of the value and profitability of a life insurance company can be provided 
by the embedded value method. Embedded value is an actuarially determined estimate of the economic value of the life 
insurance business of an insurance company based on a particular set of assumptions about future experience, excluding 
the economic value of future new business. In addition, the value of one year’s sales represents an actuarially determined 
estimate of the economic value arising from new life insurance business issued in one year.

China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited  believes  that  reporting  the  Company’s  embedded  value  and  value  of  one 
year’s sales provides useful information to investors in two respects. First, the value of the Company’s in-force business 
represents the total amount of distributable earnings, in present value terms, which can be expected to emerge over time, 
in accordance with the assumptions used. Second, the value of one year’s sales provides an indication of the value created 
for  investors  by  new  business  activity  and  hence  the  potential  of  the  business.  However,  the  information  on  embedded 
value  and  value  of  one  year’s  sales  should  not  be  viewed  as  a  substitute  of  financial  measures  under  the  relevant 
accounting bases. Investors should not make investment decisions based solely on embedded value information and the 
value of one year’s sales.

It is important to note that actuarial standards with respect to the calculation of embedded value are still evolving. There 
is  still  no  universal  standard  which  defines  the  form,  calculation  methodology  or  presentation  format  of  the  embedded 
value  of  an  insurance  company.  Hence,  differences  in  definition,  methodology,  assumptions,  accounting  basis  and 
disclosures may cause inconsistency when comparing the results of different companies.

Also,  embedded  value  calculation  involves  substantial  technical  complexity  and  estimates  can  vary  materially  as  key 
assumptions are changed. Therefore, special care is advised when interpreting embedded value results.

The  values  shown  below  do  not  consider  the  future  financial  effect  of  the  Policy  Management  Agreement  Between 
China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  (“CLIC”)  and  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited,  the  Non-competition 
Agreement  Between  CLIC  and  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited,  the  Trademark  License  Agreement  Between 
CLIC and China Life Insurance Company Limited, and the Property Leasing Agreement Between China Life Investment 
Holding Company Limited and China Life Insurance Company Limited, nor the future financial impact of transactions 
of  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited  with  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited,  China  Life  Pension 
Company Limited, and China Life Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited. 

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

188

Embedded Value

DEFINITIONS OF EMBEDDED VALUE AND VALUE OF ONE YEAR’S SALES
The embedded value of a life insurer is defined as the sum of the adjusted net worth and the value of in-force business 
allowing for the cost of capital supporting a company’s desired solvency margin.

“Adjusted net worth” is equal to the sum of:

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

Net assets, defined as assets less PRC statutory policy reserves and other liabilities; and

Net-of-tax  adjustments  for  relevant  differences  between  the  market  value  and  the  book  value  of  assets,  together 
with relevant net-of-tax adjustments to certain liabilities.

The market value of assets can fluctuate significantly over time due to the impact of the prevailing market environment. 
Hence the adjusted net worth can fluctuate significantly between valuation dates.

The  “value  of  in-force  business”  and  the  “value  of  one  year’s  sales”  are  defined  here  as  the  discounted  value  of  the 
projected  stream  of  future  after-tax  distributable  profits  for  existing  in-force  business  at  the  valuation  date  and  for  one 
year’s  sales  in  the  12  months  immediately  preceding  the  valuation  date.  Distributable  profits  arise  after  allowance  for 
PRC statutory reserves and solvency margins at the required regulatory minimum level.

The  value  of  in-force  business  and  the  value  of  one  year’s  sales  have  been  determined  using  a  traditional  deterministic 
discounted  cash  flow  methodology.  This  methodology  makes  implicit  allowance  for  the  cost  of  investment  guarantees 
and policyholder options, asset/liability mismatch risk, credit risk and the economic cost of capital through the use of a 
risk-adjusted discount rate.

PREPARATION AND REVIEW
The  embedded  value  and  the  value  of  one  year’s  sales  were  prepared  by  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited  in 
accordance  with  “Life  Insurance  Embedded  Value  Reporting  Guidelines”  issued  by  China  Insurance  Regulatory 
Commission. Towers Watson, an international firm of consultants, performed a review of China Life’s embedded value. 
The  review  statement  from  Towers  Watson  is  contained  in  the  “Report  on  Towers  Watson  Review  and  Opinion  on 
Embedded Value” section.

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Embedded Value

189

ASSUMPTIONS

Economic assumptions:
The calculations are based upon assumed corporate tax rate of 25% for all years. The investment returns are assumed to 
be 4.6% in 2009 and grading to 5.35% in 2012, rising to 5.5% in 2013 (remaining level thereafter). An average of 15% 
from  2009  to  2016,  and  13%  in  2017  (remaining  level  thereafter)  of  the  investment  returns  is  assumed  to  be  exempt 
from income tax. These investment return and tax exempt assumptions are based on the Company’s long term strategic 
asset mix and expected future returns. The risk-adjusted discount rate used is 11%.

Other  operating  assumptions  such  as  mortality,  morbidity,  lapses  and  expenses  are  based  on  the  Company’s  recent 
operating experience and expected future outlook.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The  embedded  value  as  at  31  December,  2009,  and  the  value  of  one  year’s  sales  for  the  12  months  to  31  December, 
2009, and their corresponding results in 2008 are shown below.

Table 1
Components of Embedded Value and Value of One Year’s Sales (RMB million)
(Assuming the method to determine taxable income for 2009 and thereafter was the same as that in 2008)

ITEM  

2009 

2008

A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 

Adjusted Net Worth 
Value of In-Force Business before Cost of Solvency Margin 
Cost of Solvency Margin 
Value of In-Force Business after Cost of Solvency Margin (B+C) 
Embedded Value (A + D) 
Value of One Year’s Sales before Cost of Solvency Margin 
Cost of Solvency Margin 
Value of One Year’s Sales after Cost of Solvency Margin (F + G) 

Note:  Numbers may not be additive due to rounding.

159,948 
149,387 
(24,106) 
125,282 
285,229 
21,352 
(3,638) 
17,713 

137,816
122,898
(20,626)
102,271
240,087
17,528
(3,604)
13,924

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

190

Embedded Value

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS
The following analysis tracks the movement of the embedded value from the start to the end of the reporting period.

Table 2
Analysis of Embedded Value Movement in the Year of 2009 (RMB million)
(Assuming the method to determine taxable income for 2009 and thereafter was the same as that in 2008)

ITEM  

Embedded Value at Start of Year 
Expected Return on Embedded Value 
Value of New Business in the Period 

A  
B  
C  
D   Operating Experience Variance 
E  
Investment Experience Variance 
F   Methodology, Model and Assumption Changes 
G   Market Value Adjustment 
Exchange Gains or Losses 
H  
Shareholder Dividend Distribution 
I  
Other 
J  
Embedded Value as at 31 Dec 2009 (sum A through J) 
K  

Notes:  1)  Numbers may not be additive due to rounding.

2)  Items B through J are explained below:

RMB million

240,087
21,123
17,713
(560)
19,590
(1,155)
(4,283)
(28)
(6,500)
(757)
285,229

B 

Reflects unwinding of the opening value of in-force business and value of new business sales in 2009 plus the expected 

return on investments supporting the 2009 opening net worth.

Value of new business sales in 2009.

Reflects  the  difference  between  actual  experience  in  2009  (including  lapse,  mortality,  morbidity,  and  expense  etc.) 

and the assumptions.

Compares actual with expected investment returns during 2009.

Reflects the effect of projection method, model enhancements and assumption changes.

Change  in  the  market  value  adjustment  from  the  beginning  of  year  2009  to  the  end  of  2009,  and  other  related 

adjustments.

Reflect the gains or losses due to change in exchange rate.

Reflects dividends distributed to shareholders during 2009.

Other miscellaneous items.

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

J 

 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

Embedded Value

191

SENSITIVITY TESTING
Sensitivity  testing  was  performed  using  a  range  of  alternative  assumptions.  In  each  of  the  sensitivity  tests,  only  the 
assumption  referred  to  was  changed,  with  all  other  assumptions  remaining  unchanged.  The  results  are  summarized 
below.

Table 3
Sensitivity Results (RMB million)

Scenarios 1-16: Assuming the method 
to determine taxable income for 2009 
and thereafter was the same as that in 2008 

VALUE OF IN-FORCE  VALUE OF ONE YEAR’S
BUSINESS AFTER COST OF  SALES AFTER COST OF
SOLVENCY MARGIN

SOLVENCY MARGIN 

1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  

Base case scenario 
Risk discount rate of 11.5% 
Risk discount rate of 10.5% 
10% increase in investment return 
10% decrease in investment return 
10% increase in expenses 
10% decrease in expenses 
10% increase in mortality rate for non-annuity products 
and 10% decrease in mortality rate for annuity products 
10% decrease in mortality rate for non-annuity products 
and 10% increase in mortality rate for annuity products 
10% increase in lapse rates 
9.  
10.   10% decrease in lapse rates 
11.   10% increase in morbidity rates 
12.   10% decrease in morbidity rates 
13.   10% increase in claim ratio of short term business 
14.   10% decrease in claim ratio of short term business 
15.   Solvency margin at 150% of statutory minimum 

8.  

16.   Using 2008 EV assumptions 

125,282 
118,536 
132,544 
148,993 
101,664 
123,264 
127,297 

123,782 

126,802 
123,681 
126,962 
123,562 
127,016 
125,029 
125,534 
113,229 

126,117 

17,713
16,706
18,800
20,492
14,958
16,211
19,215

17,581

17,847
17,461
17,974
17,546
17,882
17,200
18,227
15,894

17,994

17.   Projected taxable income based on accounting profit in accordance to

“the Provisions on the Accounting Treatment Related to Insurance Contracts” 

120,004 

17,227

Base Case Scenario 

Adjusted Net Worth
159,948

18.  Taxable income based on accounting profit in accordance to “the Provisions on

the Accounting Treatment Related to Insurance Contracts” for 2009 

156,112

Note: Scenarios 17 and 18 reflect the sensitivity to a different approach in determining the taxable income.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2009

192

Embedded Value

REPORT ON TOWERS WATSON REVIEW AND OPINION ON EMBEDDED VALUE

To The Directors of China Life Insurance Company Limited

China Life Insurance Company Limited (“China Life”) has prepared embedded value results for the financial year ended 
31 December 2009 (“EV Results”). The disclosure of these EV Results, together with a description of the methodology 
and assumptions that have been used, are shown in the Embedded Value section.

China  Life  has  engaged  Towers  Watson  Pennsylvania  Inc.,  trading  as  Towers  Watson  (“Towers  Watson”)  to  review  its 
EV Results. This report is addressed solely to China Life in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter, and sets 
out  the  scope  of  our  work  and  our  conclusions.  To  the  fullest  extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  we  do  not  accept  or 
assume any responsibility, duty of care or liability to anyone other than China Life for or in connection with our review 
work, the opinions we have formed, or for any statement set forth in this report.

Scope of work
Our scope of work covered:

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

a review of the methodology used to develop the embedded value and value of one year’s sales as at 31 December 
2009, in the light of the requirements of the “Life Insurance Embedded Value Reporting Guidelines” issued by the 
China Insurance Regulatory Commission (“CIRC”) in September 2005;
a review of the economic and operating assumptions used to develop the embedded value and value of one year’s 
sales as at 31 December 2009;
a review of the results of China Life’s calculation of the EV Results.

In carrying out our review, we have relied on the accuracy of audited and unaudited data and information provided by 
China Life.

Opinion
Based on the scope of work above, we have concluded that:

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

(cid:129) 

the  embedded  value  methodology  used  by  China  Life  is  consistent  with  the  requirements  of  the  “Life  Insurance 
Embedded Value Reporting Guidelines” issued by the CIRC, the methodology applied by China Life is a common 
methodology used to determine embedded values of life insurance companies in China at the current time;
the  economic  assumptions  used  by  China  Life  are  internally  consistent,  have  been  set  with  regard  to  current 
economic  conditions,  and  have  made  allowance  for  the  company’s  current  and  expected  future  asset  mix  and 
investment strategy;
the operating assumptions used by China Life have been set with appropriate regard to past, current and expected 
future experience;
no changes have been assumed to the treatment of tax, but some sensitivity results relating to tax have been shown 
by China Life; and
the EV Results have been prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the methodology and assumptions 
set out in the Embedded Value section.

For and on behalf of Towers Watson
Adrian Liu FIAA FCAA

26th March 2010

In case of any discrepancy between the printed version and the website version of 
this annual report, the website version shall prevail.

Stock Code: 2628

Annual Report 2009

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