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China Life Insurance Company

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FY2015 Annual Report · China Life Insurance Company
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Stock Code: 2628

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Annual Report 2015

 
 
The  Company  is  a  life  insurance  company  established  in  Beijing,  China  on  30  June  2003  according  to  the 
Company  Law  and  Insurance  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.  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  Asset  Management  Company  Limited,  the  Company  is  the  largest  insurance  asset  management 
company in China. The Company also has controlling shareholding in China Life Pension Company Limited.

Our  products  and  services  include  individual  life  insurance,  group  life  insurance,  and  accident  and  health 
insurance.  The  Company  is  a  leading  provider  of  individual  and  group  life  insurance,  annuity  products  and 
accident and health insurance in China. As at 31 December 2015, the Company had approximately 216 million 
long-term individual and group life insurance policies, annuity contracts, 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 2015

Contents

2

3

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9

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58

73

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101

102

103

105

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108

110

228

Definitions and Material Risk Alert 

Company Profile 

Financial Summary 

Chairman’s Statement 

Management Discussion and Analysis 

Report of the Board of Directors 

Report of the Supervisory Committee 

Significant Events 

Changes in Ordinary Shares and Shareholders Information 

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees 

Corporate Governance 

Internal Control 

Honors and Awards 

Independent Auditors’ Report 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 

Embedded Value 

1

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Definitions and Material Risk Alert

In this annual report, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings:

The Company1 

China Life Insurance Company Limited and its subsidiaries

CLIC 

AMC 

China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company,  the  controlling  shareholder  of 
the Company

China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited,  a  non-wholly  owned 
subsidiary of the Company

Pension Company 

China  Life  Pension  Company  Limited,  a  non-wholly  owned  subsidiary  of 
the Company

CLP&C 

CLI 

AMP 

CLWM 

CIRC 

CSRC 

HKSE 

SSE 

Company Law 

Insurance Law 

Securities Law 

China  Life  Property  and  Casualty  Insurance  Company  Limited,  a  non-
wholly owned subsidiary of CLIC

China  Life  Investment  Holding  Company  Limited,  a  wholly  owned 
subsidiary of CLIC

China  Life  AMP  Asset  Management  Co.,  Ltd.,  an  indirect  non-wholly 
owned subsidiary of the Company

China  Life  Wealth  Management  Company  Limited,  an  indirect  non-
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company

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

Insurance 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 or PRC 

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

RMB 

Renminbi Yuan

Material Risk Alert:
The  Company  has  stated  in  this  report  the  details  of  its  existing  risks  including  risks  relating  to  macro  trends,  risks 
relating  to  business  and  risks  relating  to  investments.  Please  refer  to  the  analysis  of  the  risks  which  the  Company  may 
face in its future development in the section headed “Management Discussion and Analysis”.

1 

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

2

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Company Profile

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 Mingsheng

Board Secretary: Zheng Yong

  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
  *  Mr. Lan Yuxi, Securities Representative of the Company, is also the main contact person of the external Company 

Secretary engaged by the Company

Registered Office Address:

  16 Financial Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, P.R. China 100033

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:

  Office Address: 1403, 14/F., C.L.I. Building, 313 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
  Telephone: 852-29192628
  Fax: 852-29192638

Media for the Company’s A Share Disclosure:

  China Securities Journal
  Shanghai Securities News
  Securities Times

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

  www.sse.com.cn

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Company Profile

The Company’s H Share Disclosure Websites:
  HKExnews website at www.hkexnews.hk
  The Company’s website at www.e-chinalife.com

The Company’s Annual Reports may be obtained at:

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

Stock Information:

Stock Type
Exchanges on which the 
  Stocks are Listed
Stock Short Name
Stock Code

A Share
Shanghai Stock Exchange

China Life
601628

H Share
The Stock Exchange of 
  Hong Kong Limited
China Life
2628

ADR
New York Stock 
  Exchange
–
LFC

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 of ADR:
  Deutsche Bank
  60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005

Domestic Legal Adviser:

  King & Wood Mallesons

International Legal Advisers:

  Latham & Watkins
  Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Auditors of the Company:

  Domestic Auditor: Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP

Address:  Level  16,  Ernst  &  Young  Tower,  Oriental  Plaza,  No.1  East  Changan  Avenue, 

Dongcheng District, Beijing, P.R. China

Name of the Signing Auditors: Zhang Xiaodong, Huang Yuedong

International Auditor: Ernst & Young

Address: 22/F, CITIC Tower, 1 Tim Mei Avenue, Central, Hong Kong

4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Financial Summary

Major Financial Data1 

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

Insurance benefits and claims expenses 

Profit before income tax 
Net profit attributable to equity holders of 

Under International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS)

RMB million

2015 

2014 

Change 

2013 

2012 

2011

507,449 
362,301 
463,492 
352,219 
45,931 

440,766 
330,105 
404,275 
315,294 
40,402 

15.1% 
9.8% 
14.6% 
11.7% 
13.7% 

417,883 
324,813 
391,557 
312,288 
29,451 

371,485 
322,126 
363,554 
300,562 
10,968 

370,899
318,276
352,599
290,717
20,513

the Company 

34,699 

32,211 

7.7% 

24,765 

11,061 

18,331

Net profit attributable to ordinary share holders 
  of the Company 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 

34,514 
(18,811) 

32,211 
78,247 

7.1% 
N/A 

24,765 
68,292 

11,061 
132,182 

18,331
133,953

As at 31 December
Total assets 

Investment assets2 

Total liabilities 
Total equity holders’ equity 

Per share (RMB)
Earnings per share (basic and diluted) 
Equity holders’ equity per share 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating 
  activities per share 

Major financial ratio
Weighted average ROE (%) 

Ratio of assets and liabilities3 (%) 

Gross investment yield4 (%) 

2,448,315 
2,287,639 
2,122,101 
322,492 

2,246,567 
2,100,870 
1,959,236 
284,121 

9.0% 
8.9% 
8.3% 
13.5% 

1,972,941 
1,848,681 
1,750,356 
220,331 

1,898,916 
1,790,838 
1,675,815 
221,085 

1,583,907
1,494,969
1,390,519
191,530

1.22 
11.41 

1.14 
10.05 

7.1% 
13.5% 

0.88 
7.80 

0.39 
7.82 

(0.67) 

2.77 

N/A 

2.42 

4.68 

0.65
6.78

4.74

11.56 

86.68 

6.24 

12.83 

87.21 

5.36 

decrease of 1.27  
  percentage points
decrease of 0.53  
  percentage point
increase of 0.88  
  percentage point

11.22 

5.38 

9.16

88.72 

88.25 

87.79

4.86 

2.79 

3.51

Notes:
1. 

Net  profit  refers  to  net  profit  attributable  to  equity  holders  of  the  Company,  while  equity  holders’  equity  refers  to  equity 

attributable to equity holders of the Company.

2. 

Investment  assets  =  Cash  and  cash  equivalents  +  Securities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  +  Available-for-sale  securities  + 

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

3. 

4. 

Ratio of assets and liabilities = Total liabilities/Total assets

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

through profit or loss + Total income from investment properties – Business tax and extra charges for investment)/((Investment 

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

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Chairman’s Statement

Yang Mingsheng, Chairman

In  2015,  faced  with  the  complicated  international  environment  and  the  challenging  tasks  of  carrying  out  reform  and 
development  and  maintaining  stability  at  home,  China  experienced  stable  economic  development  as  a  whole  together 
with  progress  being  achieved  and  stability  ensured,  which  provided  a  favorable  environment  for  the  sound  and  fast 
development of insurance industry. In this year, the Company proactively adapted to the new normal state of economic 
development  by  firmly  adhering  to  the  operation  ideas  of  “emphasizing  value,  strengthening  sales  force,  optimizing 
structure  and  achieving  stable  growth”,  implementing  the  “innovation-driven  development  strategy”  in  great  depth, 
capturing  opportunities,  responding  calmly  and  confidently,  staying  realistic  and  pragmatic  and  forging  ahead  with 
determination,  and  thus  achieved  the  best  operation  results  since  the  “12th  Five-Year  Plan”.  The  Company  achieved 
new heights in its business development, with the growth rate of first-year regular premiums achieving a new high record 
since  the  share  restructuring  and  listing  of  the  Company,  and  the  growth  rates  of  both  gross  written  premiums  and 
first-year  regular  premiums  with  10  years  or  longer  payment  duration  being  the  highest  over  the  past  seven  years.  The 
Company’s  efficiency  was  continuously  improved  due  to  structure  optimization,  with  the  one-year  new  business  value 
hitting a record high. The Company’s sales force reached a new high level with its number surpassing one million for the 
first  time  in  the  Company’s  history.  The  Company’s  development  achieved  the  balance  between  speed  and  efficiency, 
size  and  structure,  and  short-term  and  long-term  operation,  bringing  a  successful  close  to  the  Company’s  “12th  
Five-Year Plan”.

6

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Chairman’s Statement

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company’s  total  revenue  was  RMB507,449  million,  a  15.1%  increase  year-on-
year;  net  profit  attributable  to  equity  holders  of  the  Company  was  RMB34,699  million,  a  7.7%  increase  year-on-year; 
earnings  per  share  (basic  and  diluted)  were  RMB1.22,  a  7.1%  increase  year-on-year.  One-year  new  business  value  was 
RMB31,528 million, a 35.6% increase year-on-year. The Company’s market  share2 in  2015  was  approximately 23.0%, 
maintaining a leading position in the life insurance market. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company’s total 
assets  reached  RMB2,448,315  million,  an  increase  of  9.0%  from  the  end  of  2014;  embedded  value  was  RMB560,277 
million, an increase of 23.2% from 2014. As at 31 December 2015, the Company’s solvency ratio was 330.10%.

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  proposes  the  payment  of  a  final  dividend  of  RMB0.42  per  share  (inclusive  of 
tax), subject to the shareholders’ approval at the 2015 Annual General Meeting to be held on Monday, 30 May 2016.

The  Company  has  continually  improved  its  corporate  governance.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company 
successfully completed the change of sessions of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee and elected the 
fifth  sessions  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Supervisory  Committee.  Mr.  Xu  Hengping,  Mr.  Xu  Haifeng,  Mr.  Liu 
Jiade,  Mr.  Robinson  Drake  Pike  and  Mr.  Tang  Xin  joined  the  new  session  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  Mr.  Miao 
Ping,  Mr.  Zhan  Zhong  and  Ms.  Wang  Cuifei  joined  the  new  session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee.  The  new  sessions 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Supervisory  Committee  continue  to  play  roles  of  decision-making  and  supervision 
in  a  variety  of  areas,  such  as  strategic  planning,  risk  management,  internal  control  and  compliance,  and  performance 
appraisal,  etc.  Meanwhile,  the  Company  would  like  to  express  its  gratitude  to  the  resigned/retired  Directors,  Mr.  Su 
Hengxuan,  Mr.  Miao  Ping,  Mr.  Bruce  Douglas  Moore  and  Mr.  Huang  Yiping,  and  the  retired  Supervisors,  Ms.  Xia 
Zhihua, Ms. Yang Cuilian and Mr. Li Xuejun for their contributions to the development of the Company during their 
tenure.

The  Company  actively  pushed  forward  the  development  of  policy-oriented  businesses.  Relying  on  its  competitive 
advantages  in  professionalism  and  business  scale,  the  Company  continued  to  develop  policy-oriented  businesses 
including  Supplementary  Major  Medical  Insurance  for  Urban  and  Township  Residents,  New  Village  Cooperative 
Medical  Insurance  and  New  Rural  Pension  Insurance.  The  Company’s  inclusive  businesses  such  as  micro-insurance 
business  realized  nationwide  coverage,  and  the  insurance  products  designed  for  particular  population  groups  such 
as  senior  citizens  benefited  over  10  million  people.  In  addition,  the  Company  provided  insurance  coverage  for  over 
120,000 college-graduate village officials, and actively offered a career development platform for college-graduate village 
officials,  with  the  number  of  the  retired  college-graduate  village  officials  introduced  to  the  Company’s  local  branches 
amounting to over 1,000. The Company was constantly committed to the participation of public welfare and charitable 
undertakings.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  donated  over  RMB36  million  through  the  China  Life 
Foundation  to  provide  support  for  several  poverty  alleviation  projects  and  purchasing  of  medical  vehicles  in  poverty-
stricken areas. The Company also continually provided assistance for orphans from major disasters.

During the period of “12th Five-Year Plan”, although the Company was confronted with the most complicated situation 
and the most challenges, it managed to overcome the difficulties and made progress in adjustment and transformation, 
laying a solid foundation for building a world-class life insurance company. The past five years helped us better recognize 
that  the  golden  keys  for  opening  up  a  new  dimension  of  the  Company’s  development  were  accelerating  development 
by  adhering  to  market  orientation,  optimizing  structure  by  adhering  to  value  guidance,  improving  service  quality 
by  emphasizing  customer  experience,  enhancing  information  technology  level  by  equipping  the  Company  with  high 
technologies, and strengthening local branches by building strong basis and solid foundation.

2 

Calculated according to the premium data of life insurance companies in 2015 released by the CIRC.

7

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Chairman’s Statement

The year 2016 is the beginning of the “13th Five-Year Plan” and also a critical year for the Company to comprehensively 
deepen  the  reforms  and  push  forward  the  “innovation-driven  development  strategy”  in  great  depth.  Facing  new 
challenges  and  development  opportunities,  the  Company  will  concentrate  efforts  and  resources,  reinforce  execution  in 
accordance  with  the  general  requirements  of  the  “13th  Five-Year  Plan”,  and  strive  to  create  a  good  beginning  for  its 
development  during  the  “13th  Five-Year  Plan”  period.  The  Company  will  seek  to  accelerate  the  development  of  core 
businesses, push forward sales transformation, boost the development of comprehensive sales and interactive businesses, 
and  actively  expand  policy-oriented  businesses.  The  exclusive  individual  agent  channel  will  focus  on  developing 
businesses of regular premiums with 10 years or longer payment duration as well as the distributed short-term insurance 
businesses.  The  group  insurance  channel  will  seek  to  maintain  its  current  profitability  while  further  expanding  its 
business  scale  and  improving  the  profits.  The  bancassurance  channel  will  make  more  efforts  in  transformation  and 
development  of  regular  premium  businesses  with  long  payment  duration,  good  value  and  high  quality.  Meanwhile,  the 
development  of  new  business  channels  will  be  enhanced  by  adhering  to  the  combination  of  online  and  offline  sales, 
integration  of  online,  tele  and  mobile  sales,  and  the  direct  sales  over  the  counter  will  be  continually  promoted.  The 
Company  will  continue  to  make  strategic  investment  in  the  development  of  its  sales  force  with  an  aim  to  improve  the 
quantity  and  quality  of  the  sales  team  and  enhance  the  hard  power.  While  reinforcing  and  improving  its  competitive 
advantages  in  county-level  markets,  the  Company  will  further  accelerate  its  business  development  in  key  cities,  thus 
firmly maintaining its leading position in the market. As to the Company’s investment level, we will focus on enhancing 
the investment capabilities, improving the asset allocation management system and investment management framework, 
and  optimizing  the  asset  allocation  structure,  so  as  to  improve  the  level  of  investment  income.  The  Company  will 
further  implement  the  “innovation-driven  development  strategy”,  actively  facilitate  innovation  in  various  fields,  and 
push  forward  the  construction  of  a  “new  generation”  comprehensive  business  processing  system  with  great  efforts.  By 
deepening  its  reforming  progress,  the  Company  will  continue  to  enhance  its  development  momentum.  Moreover,  the 
Company will be in full compliance with the requirements of China Risk Oriented Solvency System (C-ROSS), improve 
its  effectiveness  in  risk  control,  strictly  stick  to  the  risk  bottom  line  and  steadily  push  forward  the  healthy  and  rapid 
development of the Company.

In  retrospect,  the  development  experiences  accumulated  during  the  “12th  Five-Year  Plan”  period  are  valuable;  looking 
forward,  the  “13th  Five-Year  Plan”  period  will  present  important  opportunities  for  the  Company  to  accelerate  its 
development. The Company will stick to the general strategy of innovation-driven development and the main theme of 
transformation  and  upgrading,  follow  the  operation  ideas  of  “emphasizing  value,  strengthening  sales  force,  optimizing 
structure,  achieving  stable  growth  and  guarding  against  risks”,  strengthen  benchmarking  practice  and  focus  on  making 
breakthroughs.  The  Company  will  also  put  more  efforts  in  accelerating  business  development,  transforming  business 
model,  deepening  reforms  and  laying  strong  basis  and  solid  foundation,  so  as  to  enable  everyone  to  enjoy  the  high-
quality  services  provided  by  the  Company,  to  create  greater  value  for  investors,  and  to  strive  for  building  a  world-class 
life insurance company.

By Order of the Board
Yang Mingsheng
Chairman

Beijing, China
23 March 2016

8

Management Discussion and Analysis

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

From left to right:
Mr.  Zheng  Yong,  Mr.  Yang  Zheng,  Mr.  Xu  Haifeng,  Mr.  Lin  Dairen,  Mr.  Xu  Hengping,  Mr.  Li  Mingguang, 
Mr. Xiao Jianyou

I 

BUSINESS OVERVIEW OF 2015
In  2015,  the  Company  achieved  a  fast  growth  of  its  business  and  maintained  its  leading  position  in  the  market, 
with  its  business  structure  continuously  optimized  and  the  operating  results  noticeably  improved.  During  the 
Reporting Period, the Company’s net premiums earned was RMB362,301 million, an increase of 9.8% from 2014, 
with RMB308,081 million from life insurance business, increased by 7.9% from 2014, RMB40,855 million from 
health insurance business, increased by 25.2% from 2014, RMB13,365 million from accident insurance business, 
increased  by  12.2%  from  2014;  first-year  premiums  for  policies  with  insurance  duration  of  more  than  one  year 
increased  by  20.1%  from  2014,  first-year  regular  premiums  increased  by  32.9%  from  2014,  and  the  percentage 
of  first-year  regular  premiums  in  first-year  premiums  for  policies  with  insurance  duration  of  more  than  one  year 
increased to 44.22% in 2015 from 39.94% in 2014; first-year regular premiums with 10 years or longer payment 
duration increased by 25.4% from 2014, and the percentage of first-year regular premiums with 10 years or longer 
payment  duration  in  first-year  regular  premiums  was  52.20%;  renewal  premiums  increased  by  1.9%  from  2014, 
and  the  percentage  of  renewal  premiums  in  gross  written  premiums  was  52.64%.  As  at  31  December  2015,  the 
number of in-force policies increased by 9.6% from the end of 2014; the Policy Persistency Rate (14 months and 
26  months)3  reached  90.00%  and  85.50%,  respectively;  and  the  Surrender  Rate4  was  5.55%,  a  0.09  percentage 
point increase from 2014.

3 

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.

Surrender  Rate  =  Surrender  payment/(Liability  of  long-term  insurance  contracts  at  the  beginning  of  the  period  +  Premium  of 

long-term insurance contracts)

9

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

With  respect  to  the  exclusive  individual  agent  channel,  the  Company  has  achieved  a  relatively  rapid  increase  in 
business scale and a remarkable increase in business value based on the continued business structure optimization. 
During  the  Reporting  Period,  gross  written  premiums  from  the  exclusive  individual  agent  channel  increased  by 
10.0%  year-on-year;  first-year  regular  premiums  increased  by  39.2%  year-on-year;  the  percentage  of  first-year 
regular premiums in first-year premiums was 98.97%; first-year regular premiums with 10 years or longer payment 
duration  increased  by  24.5%  year-on-year;  the  percentages  of  first-year  regular  premiums  with  5  years  or  longer 
payment  duration  and  first-year  regular  premiums  with  10  years  or  longer  payment  duration  in  gross  first-year 
regular  premiums  were  90.50%  and  61.15%,  respectively;  and  renewal  premiums  increased  by  3.9%  year-on-
year and the percentage of renewal premiums in gross written premiums of the exclusive individual agent channel 
was  75.96%.  The  Company  has  made  significant  achievements  in  its  persistent  implementation  of  the  “effective 
expansion” strategy for team building. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company had a total of 979,000 
exclusive individual agents which increased by 31.7% from the end of 2014. The Company continued to promote 
the professional development for the exclusive individual agent channel, and its sustainable development capacities 
have been enhanced remarkably.

With respect to the group insurance channel, businesses maintained a steady growth. During the Reporting Period, 
gross written premiums from the group insurance channel increased by 15.3% year-on-year; short-term insurance 
premiums increased by 14.6% year-on-year and short-term accident insurance premiums increased by 12.5% year-
on-year. The group insurance channel actively provided services for economic and social development, effectively 
pushed forward the development of micro-insurance business, insurance for college-graduate village officials, birth 
planning  insurance,  accident  insurance  for  senior  citizens  and  new  village  cooperative  supplementary  accident 
insurance, etc. The Company also actively developed the medical insurance business in the high-end market, and 
further operated the multinational co-insurance business and the international insurance business such as the travel 
insurance  for  Sino-Russian  tourism.  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  had  a  total  of  45,000 
group insurance sales representatives in the group insurance channel.

With  respect  to  the  bancassurance  channel,  the  Company  actively  responded  to  new  challenges  from  market 
competition  by  rapidly  expanding  the  sales  team,  deepening  cooperation  between  different  sales  channels  and 
strengthening  sales  support,  enhancing  the  fundamental  management  and  promoting  business  development. 
While maintaining the business scale as well as the steady growth of regular premiums, the Company made great 
efforts in developing businesses with medium- to long-term regular  premiums  (particularly  the regular  premiums 
with 10 years or longer payment duration) and achieved remarkable results in its channel transformation. During 
the  Reporting  Period,  gross  written  premiums  from  the  bancassurance  channel  increased  by  6.2%  year-on-year, 
first-year premiums for policies with insurance duration of more than one year increased by 12.0% year-on-year, 
first-year  regular  premiums  increased  by  14.6%  year-on-year,  and  first-year  regular  premiums  with  10  years  or 
longer payment duration increased by 35.9% year-on-year. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the number of 
intermediary  bancassurance  outlets  was  56,000,  with  a  total  of  131,000  sales  representatives  which  increased  by 
84.5% from the end of 2014.

In  2015,  the  Company  improved  its  asset  allocation  capacity  representing  the  core  value  and  operation 
characteristics  of  life  insurance,  made  continuous  efforts  in  diversifying  its  investment  products,  channels  and 
regions, and gradually formed a management structure, which was based on a strategic asset allocation, and relied 
on  diversified  and  market-oriented  investments  with  the  entrustors’  active  allocation  and  arrangement  as  well  as 
the  organization  and  implementation  by  the  investment  managers.  In  terms  of  investment  portfolios,  in  regard 
to  the  falling  interest  rates,  an  unsteadily  increasing  bond  market  and  the  narrowed  credit  spread,  the  Company 
actively responded to the fixed income investment environment by increasing its allocation in transactional bonds 
and other financial products. Meanwhile, in view of the increasing fluctuations and distinct divisions of the stock 

10

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

market,  the  Company  highly  boosted  market  operations  with  the  advantage  of  a  market-oriented  agency,  and 
actively promoted allocation globally and made investments in sophisticated markets and high-quality assets while 
considering  the  prospective  movement  of  exchange  rate.  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company’s 
investment  assets  reached  RMB2,287,639  million,  an  increase  of  8.9%  from  the  end  of  2014.  Among  the  major 
types  of  investments,  the  percentage  of  bonds  was  43.55%,  the  percentage  of  term  deposits  was  24.59%,  the 
percentage  of  stocks  and  funds5  was  9.34%,  and  the  percentage  of  financial  assets6,  such  as  the  debt  investment 
plans,  equity  investment  plans  and  trust  schemes  etc.,  was  5.26%.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  interest  and 
dividend  income  increased  steadily,  and  net  investment  yield7  was  4.30%.  Spread  income  increased  significantly, 
the  gross  investment  yield  was  6.24%,  and  the  gross  investment  yield  including  net  share  of  profit  of  associates 
and joint ventures8 was 6.20%. The comprehensive investment yield taking into account the current net fair value 
changes of available-for-sale financial assets recognized in other comprehensive income9 was 7.23%.

In  2015,  the  Company  further  implemented  the  “innovation-driven  development  strategy”.  On  the  basis  of 
further  optimizing  and  improving  its  IT  governance  structure,  the  Company  initiated  the  construction  of  the 
“new  generation”  comprehensive  business  processing  system  which  featured  as  customer  oriented,  Internet-
based,  responsive  and  reliable.  The  Company  fully  promoted  Cloud  Assistant,  Cloud  Signage,  Cloud  Desktop 
and  Total  Internet  Connection  in  order  to  speed  up  its  mobile  Internet-based  operation.  The  Company  stepped 
up  the  efforts  in  product  innovation,  further  optimized  its  product  development  mechanism,  and  introduced 
several new products aimed at specific market segments and meeting customers’ emerging demands. The Company 
innovated  a  new  mobile  Internet-based  sales  model,  which  enabled  a  whole  electronic  process  from  product 
advertising,  purchase,  premium  payment  to  policy  generation.  The  Company  further  promoted  the  application 
of  E-China  Life  and  E-Store  across  sales  channels,  effectively  promoting  the  sales  of  its  major  products.  The 
Company  reinforced  the  innovation  of  operation  and  services  by  launching  E-customer  Service  with  Internet 
services  and  mobile  app  services  as  its  core,  marking  a  new  beginning  of  the  Company’s  “Internet  plus”  service. 
The  nationwide  promotion  of  “Counter  Pass”  system  provided  “four-pass”  services  of  policy  enquiry,  claim 
acceptance,  settlement  and  payment  across  provinces  without  geographical  restrictions.  The  Company  put  more 
efforts in promoting centralized operation and realized centralized underwriting and claim assessment across eight 
provinces  and  municipalities,  which  accumulated  precious  experiences  for  the  implementation  of  the  Company’s 
“Rui  Operation”  strategy.  With  automation  rate  of  insurance  underwriting  and  preservation  reaching  74%  and 
81%, respectively, and the launch of a smart claim settlement platform, a pilot program of quick claim settlement 
and  direct  payment  at  hospitals,  the  Company’s  operational  productivity  and  efficiency  was  further  improved. 

5 
6 

7 

8 

9 

Exclusive of currency fund.

Including debt investment plans, equity investment plans, trust schemes, project asset-backed plans, asset-backed securities and 

specialized asset management plans, etc.

Net  investment  yield  =  (Investment  income  +  Net  income  from  investment  properties  –  Business  tax  and  extra  charges  for 

investment) / ((Investment assets at the beginning of the period + Investment assets at the end of the period) / 2)

Gross investment yield including net share of profit of associates and joint ventures = (Investment income + Net realised gains/

(losses)  on  financial  assets  +  Net  fair  value  gains/(losses)  through  profit  or  loss  +  Total  income  from  investment  properties  – 

Business tax and extra charges for investment + Net share of profit of associates and joint ventures) / ((Investment assets at the 

beginning of the period + Investments in associates and joint ventures at the beginning of the period + Investment assets at the 

end of the period + Investments in associates and joint ventures at the end of the period) / 2)

Comprehensive  investment  yield  =  (Investment  income  +  Net  realised  gains/(losses)  on  financial  assets  +  Net  fair  value  gains/

(losses) through profit or loss + Current net fair value changes of available-for-sale securities recognized in other comprehensive 

income + Total income from investment properties – Business tax and extra charges for investment) / ((Investment assets at the 

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

11

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

The  Company  fully  completed  the  promotion  of  comprehensive  counter  service  system,  with  one-stop  services 
becoming available at 2,578 counters nationwide. To improve customer experience, the Company launched global 
emergency services and VIP services for all long-term policy holders, which covered multi-layer and various classes 
of  global  emergency  services,  health  consultation  and  VIP  care  services.  The  Company  continued  to  support 
children  education  and  development  and  participate  in  public  welfare  undertakings,  and  held  painting  and 
drawing  events  for  children  across  China  for  five  consecutive  years.  The  Company  also  cared  about  physical  and 
mental  health  of  customers,  and  actively  held  various  customer  activities,  such  as  sports  events  and  lectures,  etc. 
The results of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty were increased by 1.2% and 4.8% year-on-year, reaching 
a record high.

The  Company  continuously  complied  with  Section  404  of  the  U.S.  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act.  Meanwhile,  it 
implemented  procedures  for  the  compliance  with  standard  systems  of  corporate  internal  control  by  following 
the  “Standard  Regulations  on  Corporate  Internal  Control”  and  the  “Implementation  Guidelines  for  Corporate 
Internal  Control”  jointly  issued  by  five  PRC  ministries  including  the  Ministry  of  Finance,  etc,  and  the  “Basic 
Standards of Internal Control for Insurance Companies” issued by the CIRC. In addition, the Company updated 
and  benchmarked  its  internal  control  system  to  the  “Internal  Control-Integrated  Framework  (2013)”  issued  by 
the  U.S.  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  (COSO).  In  accordance  with  the  CIRC’s  requirements  on  the 
commissioning  in  the  C-ROSS  transition  period,  the  Company  launched  programs  to  build  up  its  solvency  risk 
management  system,  fully  benchmarked  itself  to  the  regulatory  rules,  strengthened  the  soundness,  compliance 
and  validity  of  its  risk  management  system,  and  optimized  the  formation  and  transmission  mechanisms  of 
risk  preference.  The  Company  complied  with  the  “Guidelines  for  the  Implementation  of  Comprehensive  Risk 
Management  of  Life  Insurance  Companies”  issued  by  the  CIRC,  continued  the  work  in  relation  to  risk  alert 
classification  management,  and  created  a  monitoring  system  on  key  risks  and  explored  a  remote  and  vertical 
monitoring mode based on its information system. The Company also took the opportunity of the CIRC’s special 
inspection,  namely  “two  strengthens  and  two  containments”,  to  identify  internal  control  problems  and  make 
effective  adjustments.  All  the  above  measures  helped  to  improve  the  Company’s  risk  management  framework, 
secure the risk bottom line and optimize the internal control process, which enhanced the Company’s capability in 
risk management.

II  ANALYSIS OF MAJOR ITEMS OF CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE 

INCOME

(1)  Total Revenues

For the year ended 31 December 

Net premiums earned 
  Life insurance business 
  Health insurance business 
  Accident insurance business 
Investment income 
Net realised gains on financial assets 
Net fair value gains through profit or loss 
Other income 

2015 

362,301 
308,081 
40,855 
13,365 
97,582 
32,297 
10,209 
5,060 

RMB million
2014

330,105
285,574
32,624
11,907
93,548
7,120
5,808
4,185

Total 

507,449 

440,766

12

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

Net Premiums Earned

1. 

Life Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  premiums  earned  from  life  insurance  business  increased  by  7.9% 
year-on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  the  first-year  premiums  for  policies  with 
insurance  duration  of  more  than  one  year  resulting  from  the  Company’s  enhanced  efforts  in  team 
building and business development.

2.  Health Insurance Business

During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  premiums  earned  from  health  insurance  business  increased  by 
25.2% year-on-year. This was primarily due to the Company’s enhanced efforts in developing health 
insurance business.

3. 

Accident Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  premiums  earned  from  accident  insurance  business  increased  by 
12.2%  year-on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to  the  Company’s  continuous  efforts  in  developing 
accident insurance business.

Gross written premiums categorized by business:

For the year ended 31 December 

Life Insurance Business 
  First-year business 

  Single 
  First-year regular 

  Renewal business 
Health Insurance Business 
  First-year business 

  Single 
  First-year regular 

  Renewal business 
Accident Insurance Business 
  First-year business 

  Single 
  First-year regular 

  Renewal business 

2015 

308,169 
134,449 
78,068 
56,381 
173,720 
42,041 
24,435 
18,993 
5,442 
17,606 
13,761 
13,480 
13,403 
77 
281 

RMB million
2014

285,619
111,346
70,006
41,340
174,273
33,192
19,525
14,459
5,066
13,667
12,199
12,049
11,888
161
150

Total 

363,971 

331,010

13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

Gross written premiums categorized by channel:

For the year ended 31 December 

Exclusive Individual Agent Channel 
  First-year business of long-term insurance 

  Single 
  First-year regular 

  Renewal business 
  Short-term insurance business 
Group Insurance Channel 
  First-year business of long-term insurance 

  Single 
  First-year regular 

  Renewal business 
  Short-term insurance business 
Bancassurance Channel 
  First-year business of long-term insurance 

  Single 
  First-year regular 

  Renewal business 
  Short-term insurance business 
Other Channels1 
  First-year business of long-term insurance 

  Single 
  First-year regular 

  Renewal business 
  Short-term insurance business 

Total 

Notes:
1. 

2015 

225,957 
47,974 
495 
47,479 
171,632 
6,351 
20,107 
3,571 
3,372 
199 
553 
15,983 
106,028 
87,222 
73,508 
13,714 
18,558 
248 
11,879 
1,209 
701 
508 
864 
9,806 

RMB million
2014

205,417
34,455
335
34,120
165,131
5,831
17,440
2,989
2,878
111
506
13,945
99,825
77,881
65,918
11,963
21,815
129
8,328
1,262
889
373
638
6,428

363,971 

331,010

Other channels mainly include supplementary major medical insurance business, telephone sales, etc.

2. 

The  Company’s  channel  premium  breakdown  was  presented  based  on  the  separate  groups  of  sales  personnels 

including  exclusive  individual  agent  team,  direct  sales  representatives,  bancassurance  sales  team,  and  other 

distribution channels.

14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

Investment Income

For the year ended 31 December 

Investment income from securities at fair value through profit or loss 
Investment income from available-for-sale securities 
Investment income from held-to-maturity securities 
Investment income from bank deposits 
Investment income from loans 
Other investment income 

2015 

1,708 
27,476 
24,541 
32,285 
11,115 
457 

RMB million
2014

1,677
23,029
25,357
34,934
8,138
413

Total 

97,582 

93,548

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Investment Income from Securities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss
During  the  Reporting  Period,  investment  income  from  securities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss 
increased by 1.8% year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in dividend income from stocks 
at fair value through profit or loss.

Investment Income from Available-for-Sale Securities
During the Reporting Period, investment income from available-for-sale securities increased by 19.3% 
year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in dividend income from available-for-sale funds, 
wealth management products and other equity investments.

Investment Income from Held-to-Maturity Securities
During the Reporting Period, investment income from held-to-maturity securities decreased by 3.2% 
year-on-year. This was primarily due to a decrease in the allocation of treasury bonds.

Investment Income from Bank Deposits
During the Reporting Period, investment income from bank deposits decreased by 7.6% year-on-year. 
This was primarily due to a decrease in the allocation of negotiated deposits and the investment yield 
of newly increased allocation under the low interest rate environment.

Investment Income from Loans
During  the  Reporting  Period,  investment  income  from  loans  increased  by  36.6%  year-on-year.  This 
was primarily due to an increase in the scale of policy loans and trust schemes, etc.

15

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

Net Realised Gains on Financial Assets
During the Reporting Period, net realised gains on financial assets increased by 353.6% year-on-year. This 
was primarily due to a significant increase in the spread income of available-for-sale stocks and funds.

Net Fair Value Gains through Profit or Loss
During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  fair  value  gains  through  profit  or  loss  increased  by  75.8%  year-on-year. 
This was primarily due to a significant increase in the spread income of stocks at fair value through profit of 
loss.

Other Income
During  the  Reporting  Period,  other  income  increased  by  20.9%  year-on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to 
an increase in the commission fees earned from CLP&C resulting from the Company’s increased efforts in 
promoting its interactive business.

(2)  Benefits, Claims and Expenses

For the year ended 31 December 

Insurance benefits and claims expenses 
  Life insurance business 
  Health insurance business 
  Accident insurance business 
Investment contract benefits 
Policyholder dividends resulting from participation in profits 
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs 
Finance costs 
Administrative expenses 
Other expenses 
Statutory insurance fund contribution 

2015 

352,219 
313,612 
34,398 
4,209 
2,264 
33,491 
35,569 
4,320 
27,458 
7,428 
743 

RMB million
2014

315,294
288,868
22,434
3,992
1,958
24,866
27,147
4,726
25,432
4,151
701

Total 

463,492 

404,275

16

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

Insurance Benefits and Claims Expenses

1 

2 

3 

Life Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  insurance  benefits  and  claims  expenses  attributable  to  life  insurance 
business  increased  by  8.6%  year-on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  the  scale  of  life 
insurance business.

Health Insurance Business
During the Reporting Period, insurance benefits and claims expenses attributable to health insurance 
business increased by 53.3% year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in the scale of health 
insurance  business  and  the  update  of  actuarial  assumptions,  such  as  discount  rate  assumption  of 
reserves of traditional insurance contracts.

Accident Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  insurance  benefits  and  claims  expenses  attributable  to  accident 
insurance business increased by 5.4% year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in the scale 
of accident insurance business.

Investment Contract Benefits
During  the  Reporting  Period,  investment  contract  benefits  increased  by  15.6%  year-on-year.  This  was 
primarily due to an increase in the scale of investment contracts.

Policyholder Dividends Resulting from Participation in Profits
During  the  Reporting  Period,  policyholder  dividends  resulting  from  participation  in  profits  increased  by 
34.7% year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in investment yields of the participating products.

Underwriting and Policy Acquisition Costs
During  the  Reporting  Period,  underwriting  and  policy  acquisition  costs  increased  by  31.0%  year-on-year. 
This was primarily due to an increase in underwriting costs for first-year regular premium business resulting 
from the growth of the Company’s business and the optimization of its business structure.

Finance Costs
During  the  Reporting  Period,  finance  costs  decreased  by  8.6%  year-on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to  a 
decrease in interest payments for securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

Administrative Expenses
During  the  Reporting  Period,  administrative  expenses  increased  by  8.0%  year-on-year.  This  was  primarily 
due  to  the  Company’s  increased  investment  in  team  building  for  the  purpose  of  enhancing  its  sustainable 
development capacity.

Other Expenses
During  the  Reporting  Period,  other  expenses  increased  by  78.9%  year-on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to 
an  increase  in  business  taxes  and  surcharges  expenses  resulting  from  an  increase  in  taxable  income  from 
investments.

17

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

(3)  Profit before Income Tax

For the year ended 31 December 

Life insurance business 
Health insurance business 
Accident insurance business 
Other business 

Total 

2015 

40,921 
557 
1,753 
2,700 

RMB million
2014

30,651
3,252
1,546
4,953

45,931 

40,402

1 

2 

3 

4 

Life Insurance Business
During the Reporting Period, profit  before income tax in life insurance business increased  by 33.5% 
year-on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to  the  growth  of  business  and  an  increase  in  income  from 
investments as compared to the corresponding period of 2014.

Health Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  profit  before  income  tax  in  health  insurance  business  decreased  by 
82.9% year-on-year. This was primarily due to the update of actuarial assumptions, such as discount 
rate assumption of reserves of traditional insurance contracts, which partially reduced the profit for the 
period.

Accident Insurance Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  profit  before  income  tax  in  accident  insurance  business  increased  by 
13.4% year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in the scale of accident insurance business 
as compared to the corresponding period of 2014.

Other Business
During  the  Reporting  Period,  profit  before  income  tax  in  other  business  decreased  by  45.5%  year-
on-year.  This  was  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  in  net  profits  of  associates  and  the  impairment  of 
investments in associates.

(4)  Income Tax

During the Reporting Period, income tax of the Company was RMB10,744 million, a 36.2% increase year-
on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in profit before income tax.

(5)  Net Profit

During  the  Reporting  Period,  net  profit  attributable  to  equity  holders  of  the  Company  was  RMB34,699 
million,  a  7.7%  increase  year-on-year.  This  was  mainly  attributable  to  factors  such  as  the  increase  in 
investment income. However, update of actuarial assumptions, such as discount rate assumption of reserves 
of traditional insurance contracts, partially reduced the profit for the period.

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

III  ANALYSIS  OF  MAJOR  ITEMS  OF  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF  FINANCIAL 

POSITION

(1)  Major Assets

Investment assets 
  Term deposits 
  Held-to-maturity securities 
  Available-for-sale securities 
  Securities at fair value through profit or loss 
  Securities purchased under agreements to resell 
  Cash and cash equivalents 
  Loans 
  Statutory deposits – restricted 

Investment properties 

Other assets 

Total 

RMB million
As at
31 December 2015  31 December 2014

As at 

2,287,639 
562,622 
504,075 
770,516 
137,990 
21,503 
76,096 
207,267 
6,333 
1,237 
160,676 

2,100,870
690,156
517,283
607,531
53,052
11,925
47,034
166,453
6,153
1,283
145,697

2,448,315 

2,246,567

Term Deposits
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  term  deposits  decreased  by  18.5%  year-on-year.  This  was  primarily 
due to a decrease in the allocation of negotiated deposits.

Held-to-Maturity Securities
As at the end of the Reporting Period, held-to-maturity securities decreased by 2.6% year-on-year. This was 
primarily due to a decrease in the allocation of treasury bonds.

Available-for-Sale Securities
As at the end of the Reporting Period, available-for-sale securities increased by 26.8% year-on-year. This was 
primarily due to an increase in the allocation of funds, wealth management products and unlisted equities in 
light of market conditions in a timely manner.

Securities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  securities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  increased  by  160.1% 
year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in the allocation of bonds at fair value through profit or 
loss.

19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

Cash and Cash Equivalents
As at the end of the Reporting Period, cash and cash equivalents increased by 61.8% year-on-year. This was 
primarily due to the needs for liquidity management.

Loans
As at the end of the Reporting Period, loans increased by 24.5% year-on-year. This was primarily due to an 
increase in the scale of policy loans and trust schemes, etc.

Investment Properties
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  investment  properties  decreased  by  3.6%  year-on-year.  This  was 
primarily due to the depreciation of the investment properties.

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

As at 31 December 2015 

As at 31 December 2014

Amount 

Percentage 

Amount 

Percentage

RMB million

Fixed-maturity investments 
  Term deposits 
  Bonds 

Insurance asset management products1 

  Other fixed-maturity investments2 
Equity investments 
  Common stocks 
  Funds 
  Other equity investments3 
Investment properties 
Cash, cash equivalents and others4 

1,777,180 
562,622 
996,236 
67,569 
150,753 
411,623 
111,516 
169,485 
130,622 
1,237 
97,599 

77.69% 
24.59% 
43.55% 
2.95% 
6.60% 
17.99% 
4.87% 
7.41% 
5.71% 
0.05% 
4.27% 

1,804,598 
690,156 
940,619 
62,348 
111,475 
236,030 
94,933 
83,620 
57,477 
1,283 
58,959 

85.90%
32.85%
44.77%
2.97%
5.31%
11.23%
4.52%
3.98%
2.73%
0.06%
2.81%

Total 

Notes:
1. 

2. 

3. 

2,287,639 

100.00% 

2,100,870 

100.00%

Insurance asset management products under fixed-maturity investments include infrastructure and real estate debt 

investment plans and project asset-backed plans.

Other fixed-maturity investments include policy loans, trust schemes, statutory deposits – restricted, etc.

Other  equity  investments  include  private  equity  funds,  unlisted  equities,  preference  stocks,  equity  investment 

plans, wealth management products, etc.

4. 

Cash, cash equivalents and others include cash and cash equivalents, and securities purchased under agreements to 

resell.

20

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

(2)  Major Liabilities

Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Policyholder dividends payable 
Annuity and other insurance balances payable 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 
Bonds payable 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Other liabilities 

RMB million
As at 
31 December 2015  31 December 2014

As at  

1,715,985 
84,106 
31,354 
107,774 
30,092 
2,643 
67,994 
16,953 
65,200 

1,603,446
72,275
46,089
74,745
25,617
2,623
67,989
19,375
47,077

Total 

2,122,101 

1,959,236

Insurance Contracts
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  insurance  contracts  liabilities  increased  by  7.0%  year-on-year.  This 
was  primarily  due  to  the  accumulation  of  insurance  liabilities  from  new  insurance  business  and  renewal 
business.  As  at  the  date  of  the  statement  of  financial  position,  the  Company’s  insurance  contracts  reserves 
passed liability adequacy testing.

Investment Contracts
As at the end of the Reporting Period, account balance of investment contracts increased by 16.4% year-on-
year. This was primarily due to an increase in the scale of certain investment contracts.

Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase  decreased  by  32.0% 
year-on-year. This was primarily due to the needs for liquidity management.

Policyholder Dividends Payable
As at the end of the Reporting Period, policyholder dividends payable increased by 44.2% year-on-year. This 
was primarily due to an increase in investment yields of participating products.

Annuity and Other Insurance Balances Payable
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  annuity  and  other  insurance  balances  payable  increased  by  17.5% 
year-on-year. This was primarily due to an increase in maturities payable.

Interest-bearing Loans and Borrowings
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  interest-bearing  loans  and  borrowings  remained  stable  compared  to 
the  end  of  2014,  and  there  were  no  new  loans  and  borrowings  in  2015.  In  June  2014,  to  meet  the  needs 
of  overseas  investment,  one  of  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  applied  for  a  fixed-interest  rate  bank  loan  of 
GBP275  million  with  a  term  of  five  years.  As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  loan  balance  was 
equivalent to RMB2,643 million.

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

Bonds Payable
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  bonds  payable  remained  stable  compared  to  the  end  of  2014.  This 
was primarily due to the fact that no subordinated debts were issued by the Company in 2015.

Deferred Tax Liabilities
As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  deferred  tax  liabilities  decreased  by  12.5%  year-on-year.  This  was 
primarily due to an increase in the deductible temporary differences.

(3)  Equity Holders’ Equity

As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  equity  holders’  equity  was  RMB322,492  million,  a  13.5%  increase 
year-on-year. This was primarily due to the combined effect of an increase in the fair value of available-for-
sale financial assets and the profit earned during the Reporting Period.

IV  ANALYSIS OF CASH FLOWS

(1)  Liquidity Sources

Our  principal  cash  inflows  come  from  insurance  premiums,  deposits  from  investment  contracts,  proceeds 
from  sales  and  maturity  of  investment  assets,  and  investment  income.  The  primary  liquidity  risks  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.

Our cash and bank deposits can provide us with a source of liquidity to meet normal cash outflows. As at the 
end of the Reporting Period, the amount of cash and cash equivalents was RMB76,096 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  RMB562,622 
million.

Our  investment  portfolio  also  provides  us  with  a  source  of  liquidity  to  meet  unexpected  cash  outflows. 
We are also subject to market liquidity risk due to the large size of our investments in some of the markets 
in  which  we  invest.  In  some  circumstances,  some  of  our  holdings  of  investment  securities  may  be  large 
enough to have an influence on the market value. These factors may adversely affect our ability to sell these 
investments or sell them at a fair price.

(2)  Liquidity Uses

Our principal cash outflows primarily relate to the payables for the liabilities associated with our various life 
insurance, annuity, accident insurance and health insurance products, operating expenses, income taxes and 
dividends  that  may  be  declared  and  paid  to  our  equity  holders.  Cash  outflows  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.

22

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

(3)  Consolidated Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 December 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities 
Foreign exchange gains on cash and cash equivalents 

2015 

(18,811) 
67,047 
(19,415) 
241 

RMB million
2014

78,247
(69,257)
16,704
10

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

29,062 

25,704

We  have  established  a  cash  flow  testing  system.  We  conduct  regular  tests  to  monitor  the  cash  inflows  and 
outflows under various changing circumstances and adjust accordingly the asset portfolio to ensure sufficient 
sources of liquidity. During the Reporting Period, the change of net cash flow from operating activities was 
primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  securities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss.  The  change  of  net  cash  flow 
from investing activities was primarily due to the needs for investment management. The change in net cash 
flow from financing activities was primarily due to the needs for liquidity management.

V 

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 admitted assets less admitted liabilities, determined in accordance with 
relevant regulatory rules) by the minimum required capital. The following table shows our solvency ratio as at the 
end of the Reporting Period:

Actual capital 
Minimum capital 
Solvency ratio 

RMB million
As at 
31 December 2015  31 December 2014

As at  

282,820 
85,676 
330.10% 

236,151
80,193
294.48%

The  increase  in  the  Company’s  solvency  ratio  was  primarily  due  to  a  significant  increase  in  the  comprehensive 
income during the Reporting Period and the issue of Core Tier 2 Capital Securities.

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

VI  ANALYSIS OF CORE COMPETITIVENESS

The Company has the advantage of very strong brand recognition. It is the only life insurance company in China 
with  shares  listed  on  the  Shanghai  Stock  Exchange,  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  and  the  New  York  Stock 
Exchange.  It  is  also  a  core  member  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  which  is  one  of  the  “Fortune 
Global  500”  and  the  “World’s  500  Most  Influential  Brands”.  In  2015,  the  brand  of  China  Life  has  been  ranked 
as  one  of  the  “World’s  500  Most  Influential  Brands”  published  by  World  Brand  Lab  for  nine  consecutive  years. 
The brand was also ranked as No.5 on the “China’s 500 Most Valuable Brands” list, with brand value estimated at 
RMB182,272 million, ranking No.1 in the insurance industry.

The  Company  has  an  extensive  services  and  distribution  network  in  China,  with  its  business  outlets  and 
services  counters  covering  both  urban  and  rural  areas.  The  979,000  exclusive  individual  agents,  45,000  direct 
sales  representatives,  56,000  intermediary  bancassurance  outlets  and  131,000  sales  representatives  at  those 
bancassurance outlets form a unique distribution and services network in China, and make the Company the life 
insurance service provider closest to the customers. Making use of internationally leading information technology 
and  expanding  telephone,  Internet,  email  and  other  electronic  service  channels,  the  Company  strives  to  meet 
customer demand for purchasing insurance products through multiple channels.

The Company has the most extensive customer base. As at 31 December 2015, the Company had approximately 
216  million  long-term  individual  and  group  life  insurance  policies,  annuity  contracts  and  long-term  health 
insurance policies in force.

The  Company  possesses  great  financial  strength.  As  at  31  December  2015,  the  registered  capital  and  the  total 
assets  of  the  Company  were  RMB28,265  million  and  RMB2,448,315  million,  respectively,  which  ranked  No.1 
in  China’s  life  insurance  industry.  As  at  the  end  of  2015,  the  total  market  capitalization  of  the  Company  was 
US$114,921 million, which ranked No.2 among all listed insurance companies in the world.

The  Company  is  one  of  the  largest  institutional  investors  in  China,  and  through  its  controlling  shareholding 
in  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited,  the  Company  is  the  largest  insurance  asset  management 
company in China. As at 31 December 2015, the investment assets reached RMB2,287,639 million, an increase of 
8.9% from the end of 2014.

The  Company  has  rich  experience  in  life  insurance  management.  The  predecessor  of  China  Life  was  the  first 
enterprise to underwrite life insurance business in China, and played the role of an explorer and pioneer in China’s 
life  insurance  industry.  During  the  long  course  of  its  development,  the  Company  has  accumulated  a  wealth  of 
experience in operation and management, has a stable, professional management team, and has become well versed 
in the art of management in China’s life insurance market. The Company’s key management team and personnel 
comprise those who have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the life insurance market in China, including 
members  of  the  Company’s  senior  management,  qualified  underwriting  personnel,  actuaries  and  experienced 
investment managers, etc. During the Reporting Period, there was no movement of these personnel which might 
have material impacts on the Company.

24

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

VII  MAJOR INVESTMENTS

Investment business is one of the principal businesses of the Company, among which, equity investment consists 
of listed equities, unlisted equities and private equity funds, etc; non-equity investment consists of bank deposits, 
bonds and financial assets such as debt investment plans, trust schemes and wealth management products, etc.

On 8 December 2015, the Company and Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd. (“Postal Savings Bank”) entered 
into the Share Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which, Postal Savings Bank conditionally agreed to allot and 
issue, and the Company conditionally agreed to subscribe for, 3,341,900,000 shares of Postal Savings Bank for a 
total  consideration  of  RMB12,999,991,000.  Upon  the  completion  of  the  transaction  on  17  December  2015,  the 
Company  holds  no  more  than  5%  of  the  enlarged  issued  share  capital  of  Postal  Savings  Bank.  For  details,  please 
refer to the announcement published by the Company on the website of the SSE and the HKExnews website of the 
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited on 8 December 2015.

During the Reporting Period, there was no other material equity investment or non-equity investment with a total 
investment amount of more than 10% of the Company’s audited net asset as at the end of last year.

VIII SALES OF MATERIAL ASSETS AND EQUITY

During the Reporting Period, there was no sale of material assets and equity of the Company.

IX  BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF OUR MAIN SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES

Registered 
Capital

Shareholding 

Percentage Total Assets

Net Assets

Net Profit

RMB million

4,000

60%

7,608

6,940

1,096

3,440

2,931

117

3,400

70.74% is held 
by the Company, 
and 3.53% is 
held by AMC

15,000

40%

65,634

19,531

2,258

Company Name

Major 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 proprietary funds; 
acting  as  agent  or  trustee  for  asset  management 
business; consulting business relevant to the above 
businesses;  other  asset  management  businesses 
permitted by applicable PRC laws and regulations

Group  pension  insurance  and  annuity;  individual 
pension insurance and annuity; short-term health 
insurance;  accident  insurance;  reinsurance  of  the 
above insurance businesses; business for the use of 
insurance  funds  that  are  permitted  by  applicable 
PRC laws and regulations; pension insurance asset 
management  product  business;  management  of 
funds  in  RMB  or  foreign  currency  as  entrusted 
by  entrusting  parties  for  the  retirement  benefit 
purpose; other businesses permitted by the CIRC

Property  loss  insurance;  liability  insurance;  credit 
insurance  and  bond  insurance;  short-term  health 
insurance  and  accident  insurance;  reinsurance 
of  the  above  insurance  businesses;  businesses  for 
the  use  of  insurance  funds  that  are  permitted 
by  applicable  PRC  laws  and  regulations;  other 
businesses permitted by the CIRC

25

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

X 

STRUCTURED ENTITIES CONTROLLED BY THE COMPANY
Details of structured entities controlled by the Company is set out in Note 39(c) in the Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements in this annual report.

XI  FUTURE PROSPECT AND RISK ANALYSIS

In 2016, the Company will strengthen its in-depth analysis of macro-economic trends and complex risk factors to 
maintain its continuous and healthy growth. The major risk factors which may have an impact on the Company’s 
future development strategy and business objectives include:

1.  Risks relating to macro trends

The  global  economy  is  experiencing  profound  changes  with  insufficient  momentum  for  recovery;  the 
growth of international trade is sluggish; the volatility is seen in the financial and bulk commodity markets; 
the  geopolitical  risks  are  mounting;  and  the  instabilities  and  uncertainties  in  the  external  environment  are 
increasing. The impact of all the above factors on China’s development cannot be underestimated. Domestic 
conflicts and risks that have been building up over the years become more obvious. With the change of pace 
in  economic  growth,  the  difficulties  associated  with  structural  adjustments,  and  the  interwoven  problems 
arising from the transformation of the drivers of growth, the downward pressure on the economy is growing. 
Changes  in  international  and  domestic  markets  will  be  transferred  to  the  insurance  industry  through 
multiple  channels  such  as  the  real  economy,  financial  markets  and  consumer  demands,  which  will  in  turn 
affect the business development, use of funds and solvency in various aspects.

2.  Risks relating to our business

As  the  financial  reform  steadily  moves  forward  within  a  certain  period  of  time  in  future,  the  effects  from 
the  further  implementation  of  the  exchange  rate  reform  and  the  falling  of  the  risk-free  interest  rate  etc. 
will  become  increasingly  apparent.  Further,  the  market-oriented  reform  of  premium  rate  for  life  insurance, 
the  intensified  market  competition  and  the  application  of  new  technologies,  etc.  will  bring  about  various 
challenges  and  uncertainties  to  the  business  development  of  the  Company.  Generally  affected  by  these 
factors,  the  Company  is  experiencing  more  difficulties  in  maintaining  steady  business  growth,  as  well 
as  facing  more  uncertainties  and  complexities.  Due  to  factors  such  as  investment  income  and  the  cost 
of  liabilities,  there  may  be  higher  possibility  of  fluctuation  of  the  Company’s  profits.  In  addition,  the 
operational  and  financial  risks  of  associated  enterprises  and  the  fluctuation  in  their  profitability  may 
undermine the expected returns on investment, which would have an impact on the Company’s profitability.

3.  Risks relating to investments

Given  that  the  interest  rate  in  China  maintains  at  a  low  level,  the  investment  yield  of  the  newly  allocated 
fixed  income  assets  may  decline,  the  difficulty  of  asset  allocation  may  increase,  and  the  risk  relating  to 
asset  misallocation  may  increase.  In  light  of  the  complexity  of  the  domestic  and  international  economies, 
as  well  as  the  greater  volatility  of  the  financial  markets,  the  market  risk  relating  to  investment  portfolios 
and  credit  risk  may  go  up.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  Company  may  develop  new  investment  channels,  utilize 
new investment vehicles or appoint new investment managers. All of the above may considerably affect the 
Company’s investment income and the book value of its assets, and thus result in a greater fluctuation of the 
Company’s  profits.  Moreover,  some  of  the  Company’s  assets  are  held  in  foreign  currencies,  which  may  be 
adversely affected by exchange rate movements.

26

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Management Discussion and Analysis

In  2016,  under  the  guidance  of  the  “innovation-driven  development  strategy”,  and  with  adherence  to  the 
business  philosophy  of  “focusing  on  value,  enhancing  personnel,  optimizing  structure,  maintaining  growth 
and  guarding  against  risks”,  the  Company  will  focus  on  breakthroughs  and  strengthen  benchmarking, 
and  pay  more  attention  to  the  acceleration  of  its  development,  sales  transformation,  team  quality 
improvement, market benchmarking, as well as reform and innovation, in order to improve the Company’s 
core  competitiveness  and  sustainable  development  capability  as  a  whole  and  to  lay  a  solid  foundation  for 
achieving the Company’s development objectives of the “13th Five-Year Plan”. Given the above mentioned 
risk  factors,  the  Company  will  firmly  adhere  to  its  core  development  objectives,  and  fine-tune  its  business 
development  objectives  in  accordance  with  market  trends  to  an  appropriate  degree,  so  as  to  efficiently 
respond  to  challenges  from  market  competitors  and  changes  in  the  external  environment.  Meanwhile,  the 
Company will focus on innovation  in mechanisms, building of sales force, innovation  in products, services 
and  technology,  in  order  to  constantly  enhance  its  vitality,  creativity,  competitiveness  and  capacity  for 
sustainable  development.  The  Company  believes  that  it  will  have  sufficient  capital  to  meet  its  insurance 
business  expenditures  and  general  new  investment  needs  in  2016.  At  the  same  time,  if  there  is  any  further 
capital demand, the Company will make corresponding arrangements based on capital market conditions to 
further implement its future business development strategies.

27

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

From left to right:
Mr. Tang Xin, Mr. Chang Tso Tung Stephen, Mr. Xu Haifeng, Mr. Xu Hengping, Mr. Lin Dairen,
Mr.  Yang  Mingsheng,  Mr.  Miao  Jianmin,  Mr.  Zhang  Xiangxian,  Mr.  Wang  Sidong,  Mr.  Liu  Jiade, 
Mr. Robinson Drake Pike, Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh

Directors of the Company during the Reporting Period and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Executive Directors 

Yang Mingsheng (Chairman)
Lin Dairen
Su Hengxuan 
Miao Ping 
Xu Hengping 
Xu Haifeng 

(resigned with effect from 8 May 2015)
(retired upon expiry of the term with effect from 28 May 2015)
(appointed as Director with effect from 11 July 2015)
(appointed as Director with effect from 11 July 2015)

Non-executive Directors  Miao Jianmin

Independent Directors 

Zhang Xiangxian
Wang Sidong
Liu Jiade 

Bruce Douglas Moore 
Anthony Francis Neoh
Chang Tso Tung Stephen
Huang Yiping 
Robinson Drake Pike 
Tang Xin 

(appointed as Director with effect from 11 July 2015)

(retired upon expiry of the term with effect from 28 May 2015)

(resigned with effect from 7 March 2016)
(appointed as Director with effect from 11 July 2015)
(appointed as Director with effect from 7 March 2016)

28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

1.  PRINCIPAL BUSINESS

The  Company  is  the  largest  life  insurance  company  in  China’s  life  insurance  market  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 insurance, accident and health insurance. The Company is one of the largest institutional investors in China, 
and  is  China’s  largest  insurance  asset  management  company  through  its  controlling  shareholding  in  China  Life 
Asset  Management  Company  Limited.  The  Company  also  has  controlling  shareholding  in  China  Life  Pension 
Company Limited.

2.  BUSINESS REVIEW

(I)  Overall operation of the Company during the Reporting Period

For  details  of  the  overall  operation  of  the  Company  during  the  Reporting  Period,  the  future  development 
of its business and the principal risks faced by it, please refer to the section of “Management Discussion and 
Analysis” in this annual report.

(II)  Environmental policies and performance of the Company

The  Company  actively  responded  to  the  call  from  the  PRC  government  for  energy  saving  and  emission 
reduction,  carried  out  all  staff  actions  on  energy  saving  and  environmental  protection  in  great  depth,  and 
cut down energy consumption and carbon emission in each operational aspect through the saving of energy, 
reduction of wastage, optimization of procedures, and utilization of new types of environmental protection 
materials.

The  Company  formulated  and  released  the  “Provisional  Measures  for  the  Administration  of  Energy  Saving 
and Emission Reduction” in 2015 to further regulate the utilization of energy throughout all systems of the 
Company. It also requested all branches to submit and report to the head office regularly the attainment of 
environmental  indicators  each  year,  established  a  statistics  mechanism  for  the  collection  of  environmental 
information,  and  regulated  the  utilization,  repair  and  retirement  of  measuring  instruments  and  equipment 
for water, electricity, gas, heating and other supplies of the Company.

In  2015,  the  Company  continued  to  conscientiously  adopt  the  working  style  of  diligence  and  thrift, 
to  actively  create  the  corporate  culture  of  all  being  thrifty  in  every  aspect,  and  to  cut  down  energy 
consumption  through  the  optimization  of  procedures,  innovation  of  technologies  and  utilization  of  new 
types  of  environmental  protection  materials.  The  Company  lowered  its  costs  by  reducing  the  number  of 
meetings  and  activities,  scaling  down  the  size  of  meetings,  and  cutting  down  the  number  of  documents  to 
be issued. Office automation was fully implemented. Electronization of meeting proposals, remote review of 
proposals,  remote  handling  of  meeting  affairs  and  enquiries  of  meeting  files  were  achieved  at  the  meetings 
of  the  Board,  the  Supervisory  Committee  and  the  special  committees.  Through  the  establishment  of  the 
Research  &  Development  Center  and  Data  Center  to  construct  a  centralized  operational  services  system, 
the  Company  achieved  the  centralization  of  research,  development,  operation  and  maintenance,  as  well  as 
the  standardization  of  services.  The  daily  average  approved  operations  amounted  to  over  100  million.  As  a 
result,  the  Company  lowered  carbon  emissions  while  enhancing  its  efficiency.  The  Company  cut  down  the 
use of advertising paper materials as much as possible and effectively saved the paper consumption resulting 
from  paper  cheques,  letters  and  insurance  policies  through  the  adoption  of  new  electronic  services,  such  as 
electronic invoices, electronic insurance policies, WeChat, official websites and mobile apps.

29

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

(III)  Compliance by the Company with the relevant laws and regulations that have a significant impact

Under  the  guidance  of  the  industry’s  core  values  of  “being  trustworthy,  assuming  risks,  emphasizing  on 
services  and  being  legal  compliant”  all  along,  the  Company  stuck  to  the  business  compliance  concepts  of 
“being  compliant  from  the  top  level,  having  responsibility  for  all  to  be  compliant,  and  creating  value  from 
compliance”,  strictly  observed  and  effectively  implemented  applicable  laws  and  regulations  and  regulatory 
requirements,  such  as  the  Insurance  Law,  the  Company  Law,  the  “Regulations  for  the  Administration 
of  Insurance  Companies”,  the  “Measures  for  the  Administration  of  Insurance  Clauses  and  Insurance 
Premium  Rates  of  Personal  Insurance  Companies”,  and  the  “Interim  Measures  for  the  Administration  of 
Utilization of Insurance Funds”, seriously applied the decision made by the National People’s Congress for 
the  amendment  to  the  Insurance  Law  with  respect  to  the  disqualification  of  insurance  sales  practitioners, 
and  actively  put  into  practice  the  “Judicial  Interpretation  (3)”  of  the  Insurance  Law  promulgated  by 
the  Supreme  People’s  Court.  The  Company  also  sorted  out,  assessed,  revised  and  improved  the  existing 
business  procedures,  invoices  and  vouchers,  medical  and  insurance  products,  as  well  as  ancillary  practices, 
etc.,  pushed  forward  the  “Interim  Measures  for  the  Supervision  of  the  Internet  Insurance  Business”  issued 
by  the  CIRC  in  a  practical  manner  to  further  regulate  the  business  conduct  of  Internet  insurance,  and 
voluntarily undertook the social responsibilities of mitigating burdens and serving medical reforms to enable 
more people to enjoy preferential policies of the PRC government. The Company tried hard to construct a 
compliance management system covering the whole process of operation and management, such as corporate 
governance,  investment  management,  sales  management  and  insurance  policy  services,  with  a  view  to  fully 
serving and safeguarding the business development of the Company and its reform and innovation.

(IV)  Relationship between the Company and its customers

It  is  the  core  mission  of  an  enterprise  to  provide  high  quality  services  to  its  customers.  The  Company 
regards  customer  satisfaction  and  customer  experience  as  the  basic  standards  for  assessing  its  services,  and 
established  a  customer-oriented  business  model  in  order  to  take  customer  resources  as  the  engine  to  create 
value for the Company. As at the end of the Reporting Period, the Company provided commercial insurance 
protection services for more than 400 million customers and offered supplementary major medical insurance 
and  policy-oriented  insurance  such  as  New  Village  Cooperative  Medical  Insurance  for  nearly  400  million 
customers.  The  results  of  the  overall  customer  satisfaction  and  customer  loyalty  increased  by  1.2%  and 
4.8%, respectively, from 2014.

In 2015, the Company launched a number of services and activities for developing and improving customer 
relations  in  response  to  the  customers’  diversified  characteristics  and  demands,  including  the  global 
emergency  services  and  VIP  services  for  all  long-term  policyholders  that  covered  multi-layer  and  various 
classes of the global emergency, health consultation and VIP care services. The Company constantly stepped 
up  its  efforts  to  offer  care  to  customers  by  regularly  carrying  out  a  variety  of  sports  activities  and  seminars 
on  health  topics,  and  set  up  platforms  of  health  services.  The  Company  was  also  concerned  about  the 
growth of teenagers and children, and organized over 6,300 activities, including  customer festivals, such as 
“Hand-in-Hand” series of activities, and “Little Painters of China Life” activities, covering nearly 3 million 
customers.  By  innovating  new  form  of  services,  taking  full  advantage  of  Internet  technology  and  adopting 
mobile communication tools such as WeChat, the Company made its communication with customers more 
convenient.  The  Company  steadily  promoted  return  visits  via  WeChat  to  improve  customers’  experience. 
In  addition,  the  Company  enhanced  its  protection  of  the  rights  and  interests  of  insurance  customers,  by 
establishing  a  mechanism  for  protection,  and  intensified  its  supervisory  function  through  assessment.  In 
2015, the number of customer complaints in all systems of the Company decreased by 14% from 2014.

30

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

(V)  Relationship between the Company and its employees

The  Company  entered  into  labor  contracts  with  employees  in  a  timely  manner  to  actively  create  a 
harmonious labor relationship according to law. Taking into account the moldability of new employees, the 
Company specifically designed a method to cultivate new employees and adopted measures including tutor 
counseling,  internship  rotation  and  follow-up  appraisal,  etc.  for  cultivation  purpose.  It  also  expanded  the 
career development path for employees, conducted regular job rotation, two-way selection, communication 
and practice, education and training, and performance counseling, and implemented base platform exercises 
and  cultivation  of  professional  leaders  and  talents,  etc.  to  facilitate  the  career  development  of  employees  at 
all levels. The Company implemented a mechanism for the determination of individual remuneration based 
on  the  principle  of  “salary  determined  by  post  and  performance”  so  as  to  enable  its  employees  to  obtain 
labor remuneration in full that is commensurate with their responsibilities and performance. The Company 
protected  the  rights  of  employees  to  have  rest  days  and  annual  leave  as  conferred  by  laws  and  regulations 
in  a  practical  manner  to  fully  reflect  its  humanistic  concern  about  employees,  and  encouraged  employees 
to  arrange  rest  days  and  annual  leave  in  a  scientific  way  in  an  attempt  to  maintain  a  reasonable  work-life 
balance.

The  Company  actively  promoted  the  construction  of  a  democratic  management  system  with  an  employee 
representative  meeting  as  its  basic  form  to  protect  the  democratic  rights  of  employees  and  to  facilitate  the 
joint development between employees and enterprise. Its head office and branches have fully established the 
system  of  employee  representative  meetings,  organized  their  respective  employees  to  perform  democratic 
management and supervisory role according to law, and inspected and monitored the implementation of any 
resolutions adopted by employee representative meetings, thus carrying out the supervisory and performing 
functions of proposals in a serious manner and constantly improving democratic management.

For  details  regarding  the  Company’s  employees  (including  the  number  of  employees,  composition  of 
professionals,  educational  levels,  remuneration  policy  and  training  program),  please  refer  to  the  section 
“Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees” in this annual report.

3. 

FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROFIT DISTRIBUTION POLICY
(I) 

In  accordance  with  Article  211  of  the  Articles  of  Association,  the  basic  principles  of  the  Company’s  profit 
distribution are as follows:

1. 

2. 

The Company shall take the investment return for investors into full account and allocate the required 
percentage of the Company’s realized distributable profits to shareholders as dividends each year;

The Company shall maintain a sustainable and steady profit distribution policy and at the same time 
take into consideration the Company’s long-term interest, general interest of all the shareholders and 
the sustainable development of the Company;

3. 

The Company shall give priority to cash dividends as its profit distribution manner.

31

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

(II) 

In accordance with Article 212 of the Articles of Association, the Company’s profit distribution policy is as 
follows:

1. 

2. 

3. 

Profit distribution modes: The Company may distribute dividends in the form of cash or shares or a 
combination  of  cash  and  shares.  If  practicable,  the  Company  may  distribute  interim  dividends.  The 
Company’s dividends shall not bear interest, save in the case where the Company fails to distribute the 
dividends to the shareholders on the day when dividends were due to have been distributed.

Conditions  for  and  percentage  of  distribution  of  cash  dividends:  If  the  Company  makes  profits  in  a 
given year and the cumulative undistributed profit is positive, the Company shall distribute dividends 
in  the  form  of  cash  and  the  cumulative  profits  distributed  in  cash  over  the  past  three  years  by  the 
Company shall be no less than thirty percent (30%) of the average annual distributable profits. If the 
Company’s  solvency  ratio  is  less  than  a  hundred  percent  (100%)  of  the  regulatory  requirement,  the 
Company  shall  not  distribute  profits  to  its  shareholders.  If  the  Company’s  solvency  ratio  is  less  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  percent  (150%)  of  the  regulatory  requirement,  the  lower  of  the  following  two 
factors  shall  be  the  basis  for  profit  distribution:  (1)  the  distributable  profit  as  ascertained  under  the 
Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises; (2) the residual overall income ascertained pursuant to 
the rules for the preparation of the Company’s solvency report.

Conditions  for  distribution  of  share  dividends:  If  the  Company’s  operation  is  sound  and  the  Board 
of Directors is of the opinion that share dividends distribution is in the interest of all the Company’s 
shareholders  since  the  Company’s  stock  price  does  not  match  the  Company’s  share  capital,  the 
Company may  propose a share  dividends distribution plan if the conditions for  cash  dividends listed 
above are satisfied.

(III)  In  accordance  with  Article  213  of  the  Articles  of  Association,  the  procedures  of  reviewing  the  Company’s 

profit distribution proposal is as follows:

The  Company’s  profit  distribution  proposal  shall  be  reviewed  by  the  Board  of  Directors.  The  Board  of 
Directors  shall  have  a  sufficient  discussion  of  the  reasonableness  of  the  profit  distribution  proposal.  After 
a  special  resolution  regarding  the  proposal  is  reached  and  independent  opinions  have  been  given  by  the 
Company’s  Independent  Directors,  the  proposal  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Company’s  general  meeting  for 
approval.  In  reviewing  the  profit  distribution  proposal,  the  Company  shall  provide  Internet-based  voting 
mechanism  to  the  shareholders.  When  deliberating  on  specific  cash  dividend  proposal  by  the  Company’s 
general  meeting,  the  Company  shall  make  active  communication  with  shareholders,  especially  small- 
and  medium-sized  shareholders,  through  various  channels.  The  Company  shall  also  fully  solicit  opinions 
and  appeals  from  small-  and  medium-sized  shareholders,  and  give  timely  reply  to  concerns  of  small-  and 
medium-sized shareholders.

32

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

(IV)  Profit distribution plan and public reserves capitalization plan

1. 

Profit distribution plan or public reserves capitalization plan for the year of 2015

In accordance with the profit distribution plan for the year 2015 approved by the Board on 23 March 
2016,  with  the  appropriation  to  its  discretionary  surplus  reserve  fund  of  RMB3,438  million  (10% 
of  the  net  profit  for  2015),  the  Company,  based  on  28,264,705,000  shares  in  issue,  proposed  to 
distribute  cash  dividends  amounting  to  RMB11,871  million  to  all  shareholders  of  the  Company  at 
RMB0.42 per share (inclusive of tax). The foregoing profit distribution plan is subject to the approval 
by  the  2015  Annual  General  Meeting  to  be  held  on  30  May  2016  (Monday).  Dividends  payable  to 
domestic  shareholders  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 accordance with PRC regulations on foreign exchange control. If no such regulations are in place, 
the  applicable  exchange  rate  is  the  average  closing  rate  published  by  the  People’s  Bank  of  China  one 
week before the declaration of the distribution of dividends.

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

The  profit  distribution  policy  of  the  Company  complied  with  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the 
examination  and  approval  procedures  of  the  Company,  clearly  defined  the  dividend  distribution 
standards and percentage and the decision-making procedures and systems. Small- and medium-sized 
shareholders of the Company have sufficient opportunities to express their opinions and appeals, and 
their legitimate rights have been well protected. The Independent Directors diligently considered the 
profit distribution policy and expressed their independent opinion in this regard.

2. 

The dividend distribution of the Company for the recent 3 years is as follows:

Unit: RMB million

Net profit  
attributable to  
equity holders of  
the Company in  
the consolidated  
financial  
statements for 

Percentage of 
amount of cash 
dividends 
in net profit 
attributable to 
equity holders 
of the Company 
the year in which   in the consolidated 
financial 
statements

dividends were  
distributed 

Amount of  
dividends per  
ten shares (RMB)  
(inclusive of tax) 

Transfer of  
public reserve  
into share  
capital per  
ten shares (shares) 

Amount of  
cash dividends  
(inclusive of tax) 

– 
– 
– 

11,871 
11,306 
8,479 

34,699 
32,211 
24,765 

34%
35%
34%

4.2 
4.0 
3.0 

33

Year in which  
dividends were  
distributed 

Number of  
bonus stocks per  
ten shares (shares) 

2015 
2014 
2013 

– 
– 
– 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

4.  CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The changes in accounting policies and estimates of the Company during the Reporting Period are set out in Note 
2 and Note 3 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this annual report.

5.  RESERVES

Details  of  the  reserves  of  the  Company  are  set  out  in  Note  36  in  the  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements in this annual report.

6.  CHARITABLE DONATIONS

The total amount of charitable donations made by the Company during the Reporting Period was approximately 
RMB99 million.

7.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Details of the movement in property, plant and equipment of the Company are set out in Note 6 in the Notes to 
the Consolidated Financial Statements in this annual report.

8. 

9. 

SHARE CAPITAL
Details of the movement in share capital of the Company are set out in Note 34 in the Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements in this annual report.

INFORMATION OF TAX DEDUCTION FOR HOLDERS OF LISTED SECURITIES
Shareholders are taxed and/or enjoy tax relief for the dividend income received from the Company in accordance 
with the “Individual Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China”, the “Enterprise Income Tax Law of the 
People’s Republic of China”, and relevant administrative rules, governmental regulations and guiding documents. 
Please  refer  to  the  announcement  published  by  the  Company  on  the  website  of  the  SSE  on  8  June  2015  for  the 
information  on  income  tax  in  respect  of  the  dividend  distributed  to  A  Share  shareholders  during  the  Reporting 
Period,  and  the  announcement  published  by  the  Company  on  the  HKExnews  website  of  the  Hong  Kong 
Exchanges  and  Clearing  Limited  on  28  May  2015  for  the  information  on  income  tax  in  respect  of  the  dividend 
distributed to H Share shareholders during the Reporting Period.

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

During  the  Reporting  Period,  save  for  the  issue  of  Core  Tier  2  Capital  Securities  by  the  Company  as  disclosed 
in  “V.  Miscellaneous”  under  the  section  of  “Significant  Events”  in  this  annual  report,  the  Company  and  its 
subsidiaries did not purchase, sell or redeem any of the Company’s listed securities.

11.  H SHARE STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

No  H  Share  Stock  Appreciation  Rights  of  the  Company  were  granted  or  exercised  in  2015.  The  Company  will 
deal with such rights and related matters in accordance with the relevant PRC governmental policies.

12.  DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE BOARD

Details of the Board meetings and the Board’s performance of its duties during the Reporting Period are set out in 
the section “Corporate Governance” in this annual report.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

13.  DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ SERVICE CONTRACTS

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

14.  INTERESTS  OF  DIRECTORS  AND  SUPERVISORS  (AND  THEIR  CONNECTED 
ENTITIES) IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS, ARRANGEMENTS OR CONTRACTS
None  of  the  Directors  or  Supervisors  (and  their  connected  entities)  is  or  was  materially  interested,  directly 
or  indirectly,  in  any  transaction,  arrangement  or  contract  of  significance  entered  into  by  the  Company  or  its 
controlling shareholders or any of their respective subsidiaries at any time during the Reporting Period or subsisted 
at the end of the Reporting Period.

15.  DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ RIGHTS TO ACQUIRE SHARES

No arrangements to which the Company or its controlling shareholder or any of their respective subsidiaries is a 
party, and whose objects are, or one of whose objects is, to enable Directors or Supervisors (including their spouses 
and  children  under  the  age  of  18)  to  acquire  benefits  by  means  of  the  acquisition  of  shares  in,  or  debentures  of, 
the Company or any other body corporate, subsisted at any time during the Reporting Period or at the end of the 
Reporting Period.

16.  DISCLOSURE  OF  INTERESTS  OF  DIRECTORS,  SUPERVISORS  AND  THE  CHIEF 

EXECUTIVE IN THE SHARES OF THE COMPANY
As at the end of the Reporting Period, none of the Directors, Supervisors and the chief executive of the Company 
had any interests or short positions in the shares, underlying shares or 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  HKSE  pursuant 
to  the  Model  Code  for  Securities  Transactions  by  Directors  of  Listed  Issuers  (the  “Model  Code”)  as  set  out  in 
Appendix 10 to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (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 2015.

17.  PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHARE OPTIONS

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 share options.

18.  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.

35

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

19.  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 is in compliance 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.

20.  RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS ON FINANCIAL REPORTS

The Directors are responsible for overseeing the preparation of the financial report for each financial period which 
gives a true and fair view of the Company’s financial position, performance results and cash flow for that period. 
To the best knowledge of the Directors, there was no material event or condition during the Reporting Period that 
might have a material adverse effect on the continuing operation of the Company.

21.  BOARD’S STATEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL

In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  “Standard  Regulations  on  Corporate  Internal  Control”,  the  Board 
conducted  an  assessment  on  internal  control  relating  to  the  Company’s  financial  reporting  functions,  and 
confirmed that its internal control was effective as at 31 December 2015.

22.  MAJOR CUSTOMERS

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  gross  written  premiums  received  from  the  Company’s  five  largest  customers 
accounted for less than 30% of the Company’s gross written premiums for the year.

23.  SUFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC FLOAT

Based on the information publicly available to the Company and within the knowledge of the Directors as at the 
Latest Practicable Date (23 March 2016), 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.

24.  COMPLIANCE WITH THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE

The  Company  has  applied  the  principles  of  the  Corporate  Governance  Code  (the  “CG  Code”)  as  set  out  in 
Appendix 14 to the Listing Rules, and has complied with all code provisions of the CG Code during the Reporting 
Period.

36

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Board of Directors

25.  AUDITORS

Resolutions were passed at the 2014 Annual General Meeting to engage Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP and Ernst 
& Young as the PRC and international auditors of the Company for the year 2015, respectively. Ernst & Young 
Hua Ming LLP and Ernst & Young have been serving as the Company’s auditors for three consecutive years.

Remuneration  paid  by  the  Company  to  the  auditors  is  subject  to  approval  at  the  shareholders’  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 China Life Insurance Company Limited to the auditors in 2015 was as follows:

Service/Nature 

Financial report audit fee 
Internal control audit fee 

Fees (RMB million)

46.00
11.50

Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP and Ernst & Young have been re-appointed as the PRC and international auditors 
of the Company for the year 2016 at the First Extraordinary General Meeting 2015 held on 29 December 2015.

By Order of the Board
Yang Mingsheng
Chairman

Beijing, China
23 March 2016

37

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Supervisory Committee

From left to right:
Ms. Wang Cuifei, Ms. Xiong Junhong,
Mr. Miao Ping, Mr. Shi Xiangming,
Mr. Zhan Zhong

1.  ACTIVITIES OF THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

1. 

2. 

3. 

Currently,  the  fifth  session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  comprises  Mr.  Miao  Ping,  Mr.  Shi  Xiangming, 
Ms. Xiong  Junhong, Mr. Zhan Zhong and Ms. Wang Cuifei, with Mr. Miao Ping  acting  as the Chairman 
of  the  Supervisory  Committee.  Of  the  members  of  the  Supervisory  Committee,  Mr.  Miao  Ping,  Mr.  Shi 
Xiangming  and  Ms.  Xiong  Junhong  are  Non  Employee  Representative  Supervisors,  and  Mr.  Zhan  Zhong 
and Ms. Wang Cuifei are Employee Representative Supervisors.

Attending  meetings  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  and  diligently  discharging  their  duties.  Pursuant  to  the 
regulatory  requirements  of  the  jurisdictions  where  the  Company  is  listed,  the  Articles  of  Association  and 
the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings”  of  the  Company,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
work arrangement of the Supervisory Committee, the Supervisory Committee convened its regular meetings 
in  a  timely  manner,  at  which  it  considered  and  approved  proposals  in  relation  to  the  Company’s  financial 
reports,  periodic  reports,  internal  control,  and  risk  management.  In  2015,  the  fourth  and  the  fifth  sessions 
of  the  Supervisory  Committee  held  6  meetings,  at  which  the  Supervisors  earnestly  expressed  their  views, 
actively participated in discussions and diligently discharged their duties, thereby providing valuable advice 
for the business development of the Company.

Attending  and  participating  in  corporate  governance  meetings  and  actively  exercising  their  supervisory 
role.  In  2015,  the  Supervisory  Committee  attended  the  2014  Annual  General  Meeting  and  the  First 
Extraordinary  General  Meeting  2015  of  the  Company,  and  participated  in  the  regular  meetings  of  the 
Board.  All  members  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  participated  in  the  meetings  of  the  Nomination  and 
Remuneration  Committee,  the  Risk  Management  Committee,  and  the  Strategy  and  Investment  Decision 
Committee,  respectively,  in  accordance  with  the  work  allocation  among  Supervisors  determined  by  the 
Supervisory Committee, with a focus on the meetings of the Audit Committee. By attending these meetings, 
all  Supervisors  diligently  discharged  their  duties,  oversaw  the  procedures  for  convening  meetings,  carefully 
listened  to  the  matters  considered  at  the  meetings,  and  participated  in  discussions  when  necessary,  thus 
bringing positive effects on further enhancement of corporate governance.

38

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Supervisory Committee

4. 

Strengthening  training  and  enhancing  duty  performance  of  the  Supervisors.  In  April  2015,  Ms.  Xiong 
Junhong  attended  the  training  courses  for  new  directors,  supervisors  and  senior  management  of  insurance 
companies  and  insurance  asset  management  companies  in  2015  organized  by  the  General  Office  of  the 
CIRC.  In  2015,  all  members  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  attended  the  training  courses  on  the  PRC 
insurance  market  of  2014,  which  gave  them  a  general  review  and  analysis  of  the  overall  situation  of  the 
PRC insurance market in 2014 from various aspects, including insurance regulation, industry development 
and  horizontal  competition.  According  to  the  requirements  of  the  CIRC,  members  of  the  Supervisory 
Committee  attended  the  training  course  on  the  “Analysis  of  China  Risk  Oriented  Solvency  System”  to 
ensure  the  truthfulness,  accuracy,  completeness  and  compliance  of  the  solvency  report  submitted  by  the 
Company,  and  to  enhance  the  solvency  of  the  Company,  its  risk  management  capability  and  the  level  of 
public  disclosure  of  its  solvency  to  external  parties.  To  comply  with  the  regulatory  requirements,  members 
of  the  Supervisory  Committee  have  studied  training  materials  relating  to  anti-money  laundering  for  the 
purpose of understanding the latest regulatory system in a timely manner.

2. 

INDEPENDENT  OPINION  OF  THE  SUPERVISORY  COMMITTEE  ON  CERTAIN 
MATTERS
During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company  performed  its  supervisory  duties  in  a 
diligent  manner  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  Company  Law,  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the 
“Procedural Rules for Supervisory Committee Meetings”.

1. 

2. 

The  Company’s  operational  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  and  the  Articles  of  Association.  All  Directors  and  senior 
management  of  the  Company  maintained  strict  principles  of  diligence  and  integrity  and  performed  their 
duties  conscientiously.  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  authenticity  of  the  financial  report.  The  Company’s  annual  financial  report  truly  and  completely 
reflected  the  Company’s  financial  position  and  its  operating  results.  Ernst  &  Young  Hua  Ming  LLP  and 
Ernst  &  Young  have  performed  audits  and  have  issued  unqualified  Independent  Auditors’  Report  on  the 
consolidated  financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  2015  in  accordance  with  the  China  Standards  on 
Auditing of PRC Certified Public Accountants and the International Standards on Auditing, respectively.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Report of the Supervisory Committee

3. 

4. 

5. 

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 incurring 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  and  self-evaluation  report  on  internal  control.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  the 
Company sought to improve its internal control system, and continued to improve the effectiveness of such 
system. The Supervisory Committee of the Company reviewed the self-evaluation report on the Company’s 
internal  control  systems  and  did  not  raise  any  objection  against  the  self-evaluation  report  of  the  Board 
regarding the Company’s internal control systems.

By Order of the Supervisory Committee
Miao Ping
Chairman of the Supervisory Committee

Beijing, China
23 March 2016

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

I.  MATERIAL LITIGATIONS OR ARBITRATIONS

During the Reporting Period, the Company was not involved in any material litigation or arbitration.

II.  MAJOR CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS

(I)  Continuing Connected Transactions

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  following  continuing  connected  transactions  were  carried  out  by  the 
Company  pursuant  to  Rule  14A.76(2)  of  the  Listing  Rules,  including  the  policy  management  agreement 
between  the  Company  and  CLIC,  the  asset  management  agreement  between  the  Company  and  AMC, 
the  insurance  sales  framework  agreement  between  the  Company  and  CLP&C,  and  the  framework 
agreements  entered  into  by  CLWM  with  the  Company,  CLIC,  CLP&C,  China  Life  Insurance  (Overseas) 
Company  Limited  (“CLO”)  and  CLI,  respectively.  These  continuing  connected  transactions  were  subject 
to  the  reporting,  announcement  and  annual  review  requirements  but  were  exempt  from  the  independent 
shareholders’  approval  requirement  under  the  Listing  Rules.  CLIC,  the  controlling  shareholder  of  the 
Company, holds 60% of the equity interest in CLP&C and 100% of the equity interest in each of CLO and 
CLI.  Therefore,  each  of  CLIC,  CLP&C,  CLO  and  CLI  constitutes  a  connected  person  of  the  Company. 
AMC  is  held  as  to  60%  and  40%  by  the  Company  and  CLIC,  respectively,  and  is  therefore  a  connected 
subsidiary of the Company. CLWM is a subsidiary of AMC, and is therefore a connected subsidiary of the 
Company.

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  following  continuing  connected  transactions  were  carried  out  by  the 
Company  under  Chapter  14A  of  the  Listing  Rules,  including  the  framework  agreements  entered  into  by 
AMP with the Company, Pension Company, CLIC and CLP&C, respectively. These continuing connected 
transactions  were  subject  to  the  reporting,  announcement,  annual  review  and  independent  shareholders’ 
approval requirements under the Listing Rules. Such agreements and the transactions thereunder have been 
approved by the shareholders’ general meeting of the Company held on 29 May 2014. AMP is a non-wholly 
owned subsidiary of AMC and is therefore a connected subsidiary of the Company.

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  also  entered  into  certain  continuing  connected  transactions, 
including  the  asset  management  agreement  between  CLIC  and  AMC,  which  were  exempt  from  the 
reporting,  announcement,  annual  review  and  independent  shareholders’  approval  requirements  under 
Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.

In  addition,  the  asset  management  agreement  for  alternative  investments  and  the  transactions  thereunder 
entered  into  between  the  Company  and  CLI  during  the  Reporting  Period  were  subject  to  the  reporting, 
announcement  and  annual  review  requirements  but  were  exempt  from  the  independent  shareholders’ 
approval  requirement  under  the  Listing  Rules.  However,  such  agreement  was  subject  to  approval  by  the 
shareholders’  general  meeting  of  the  Company  under  the  SSE  Listing  Rules.  Such  agreement  and  the 
transactions  thereunder  have  been  approved  by  the  shareholders’  general  meeting  of  the  Company  held  on 
29 December 2015.

The  Company  has  complied  with  the  disclosure  requirements  under  Chapter  14A  of  the  Listing  Rules  in 
respect  of  the  above  continuing  connected  transactions.  When  conducting  the  above  continuing  connected 
transactions during the year, the Company has followed the pricing policies and guidelines formulated at the 
time when such transactions were entered into.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

1.  Policy Management Agreement

Since  30  September  2003,  the  Company  and  CLIC  have  from  time  to  time  entered  into  policy 
management agreements. The renewed agreement between the parties expired on 31 December 2014. 
The Company and CLIC entered into the 2015 policy management agreement on 29 December 2014, 
with  a  term  from  1  January  2015  to  31  December  2017.  Pursuant  to  the  2015  policy  management 
agreement,  the  Company  agreed  to  provide  policy  administration  services  to  CLIC  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  33  in  the  Notes  to  the 
Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  The  annual  cap  for  each  of  the  three  years  ending  31  December 
2017 is RMB1,037 million.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  service  fee  paid  by  CLIC  to  the  Company  amounted  to 
RMB950 million.

2.  Asset Management Agreements

(1)  Asset Management Agreement between the Company and AMC

Since 30 November 2003, the Company has from time to time entered into asset management 
agreements  with  AMC.  The  renewed  asset  management  agreement  between  the  parties 
expired  on  31  December  2012.  On  27  December  2012,  the  Company  entered  into  the  2012 
asset  management  agreement  with  AMC,  which  was  for  a  term  of  two  years  effective  from  1 
January 2013 and has been extended to 31 December  2015 pursuant to the  automatic  renewal 
clause.  Pursuant  to  the  2012  asset  management  agreement,  AMC  agreed  to  invest  and  manage 
assets  entrusted  to  it  by  the  Company,  on  a  discretionary  basis,  within  the  scope  granted  by 
the  Company  and  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  applicable  laws  and  regulations, 
regulatory requirements and the investment guidelines given by the Company. 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 33 
in  the  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  The  annual  cap  for  each  of  the  three 
years ended 31 December 2015 was RMB1,200 million. On 29 December 2015, the Company 
entered  into  the  2016  asset  management  agreement  with  AMC,  which  was  for  a  term  of  three 
years  from  1  January  2016  to  31  December  2018.  Pursuant  to  the  2016  asset  management 
agreement, AMC will continue to invest and manage assets entrusted to it by the Company. The 
annual cap for each of the three years ending 31 December 2018 is RMB1,500 million.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  Company  paid  AMC  an  asset  management  fee  of 
RMB1,020 million.

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Significant Events

(2)  Asset Management Agreement between CLIC and AMC

Since  30  November  2003,  CLIC  has  from  time  to  time  entered  into  asset  management 
agreements  with  AMC.  The  renewed  asset  management  agreement  between  the  parties  expired 
on  31  December  2014.  On  31  December  2014,  CLIC  and  AMC  entered  into  the  2015  asset 
management  agreement,  and  the  entrustment  term  was  from  1  January  2015  to  31  December 
2015.  Pursuant  to  the  2015  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.  In  consideration  of  AMC’s  services  in  respect  of  investing 
and  managing  assets  entrusted  to  it  by  CLIC  under  the  agreement,  CLIC  agreed  to  pay  AMC 
a  service  fee.  For  details  as  to  the  method  of  calculation  of  the  asset  management  fee,  please 
refer  to  Note  33  in  the  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  The  annual  cap  for 
the  year  ended  31  December  2015  was  RMB320  million.  On  30  December  2015,  CLIC  and 
AMC entered into the 2016 asset management agreement, and the entrustment term is from 1 
January 2016 to 31 December 2018. Pursuant to the 2016 asset management agreement, AMC 
will continue to invest and manage assets entrusted to it by CLIC. The annual caps for the three 
years ending 31 December 2018 are RMB320 million, RMB310 million and RMB300 million, 
respectively.

For the year ended 31 December 2015, CLIC paid AMC an asset management fee of RMB133 
million.

(3)  Asset Management Agreement for Alternative Investments between the Company and CLI

Since  22  March  2013,  the  Company  and  CLI  have  from  time  to  time  entered  into  asset 
management  agreements  for  alternative  investments.  As  approved  at  the  seventeenth  meeting 
of  the  fourth  session  of  the  Board  and  the  Second  Extraordinary  General  Meeting  2014, 
the  Company  and  CLI  entered  into  the  2015  asset  management  agreement  for  alternative 
investments  on  31  December  2014,  with  a  term  of  one  year  from  1  January  2015  to  31 
December 2015. Pursuant to the 2015 asset management agreement for alternative investments, 
CLI  will  invest  and  manage  assets  entrusted  to  it  by  the  Company,  on  a  discretionary  basis, 
within  the  scope  of  utilization  of  insurance  funds  as  specified  by  the  CIRC  and  in  accordance 
with  the  requirements  of  applicable  laws  and  regulations  and  the  investment  guidelines  of 
the  Company.  The  entrusted  assets  include  equity,  real  estate,  related  financial  products  and 
securitization  financial  products.  The  Company  will  pay  CLI  the  investment  management 
service  fee  and  performance  incentive  fee  in  respect  of  the  investment  and  management 
services  provided  by  CLI  to  the  Company  under  this  agreement.  For  details  as  to  the  method 
of  calculation  of  the  investment  management  fee  and  performance  incentive  fee,  please  refer 
to  Note  33  in  the  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  For  the  year  ended  31 
December  2015,  the  investment  management  service  fee  and  performance  incentive  fee 
payable  by  the  Company  to  CLI  would  not  exceed  RMB500  million.  The  contractual  amount 
of  the  assets  entrusted  by  the  Company  to  CLI  for  investment  and  management  would  not 
exceed  RMB150,000  million  or  its  equivalent  in  foreign  currency  (including  the  contractual 
amount  already  entrusted  prior  to  the  execution  of  the  agreement  and  the  contractual  amount 
to  be  entrusted  during  the  term  of  the  agreement)  as  at  the  expiry  date  of  the  agreement. 
The  aforesaid  contractual  amount  shall  include  the  contractual  amount  of  the  assets  newly 
entrusted by the Company in its co-investment with CLIC and CLP&C, which shall not exceed 

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Significant Events

RMB40,000 million or its equivalent in foreign currency. The co-investments of the Company, 
CLIC  and  CLP&C  shall  be  limited  to  cash  contribution  at  the  same  price  in  the  same  related 
financial  products  and  securitization  financial  products,  and  the  benefits  enjoyed  by  each  of 
them shall be in proportion to their respective investment amount.

As  approved  at  the  third  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  and  the  First  Extraordinary 
General  Meeting  2015,  the  Company  and  CLI  entered  into  the  2016  asset  management 
agreement for alternative investments on 3 February 2016, with a term from 1 January 2016 to 
30  June  2017.  Pursuant  to  the  2016  asset  management  agreement  for  alternative  investments, 
CLI  will  continue  to  invest  and  manage  assets  entrusted  to  it  by  the  Company  (including 
equity,  real  estate,  related  financial  products  and  securitization  financial  products),  and  the 
Company  will  pay  CLI  investment  management  service  fee  and  performance  incentive  fee  in 
this  regard.  During  the  term  of  the  agreement,  the  investment  management  service  fee  and 
performance  incentive  fee  payable  by  the  Company  to  CLI  will  not  exceed  RMB1,000  million 
or  its  equivalent  in  foreign  currency,  in  particular,  the  investment  management  service  fee  and 
performance incentive fee for the year of 2016 will not exceed RMB590 million or its equivalent 
in  foreign  currency,  and  the  investment  management  service  fee  and  performance  incentive 
fee  for  the  first  half  of  2017  will  not  exceed  RMB410  million  or  its  equivalent  in  foreign 
currency.  The  contractual  amount  of  assets  entrusted  by  the  Company  to  CLI  for  investment 
and  management  will  not  exceed  RMB250,000  million  or  its  equivalent  in  foreign  currency 
(including  the  contractual  amount  already  entrusted  prior  to  the  execution  of  the  agreement 
and the contractual amount to be entrusted during the term of the agreement) as at the expiry 
date  of  the  agreement,  in  particular,  the  contractual  amount  as  at  31  December  2016  will  not 
exceed  RMB200,000  million  or  its  equivalent  in  foreign  currency,  and  the  contractual  amount 
as  at  30  June  2017  will  not  exceed  RMB250,000  million  or  its  equivalent  in  foreign  currency; 
the  contractual  amount  to  be  entrusted  during  the  term  of  the  agreement  will  not  exceed 
RMB150,000  million  or  its  equivalent  in  foreign  currency  (including  the  contractual  amount 
to be entrusted during the year of 2016 of no more than RMB100,000 million or its equivalent 
in  foreign  currency,  and  the  contractual  amount  to  be  entrusted  during  the  first  half  of  2017 
of  no  more  than  RMB50,000  million  or  its  equivalent  in  foreign  currency).  The  contractual 
amount  of  the  assets  to  be  entrusted  by  the  Company  in  its  co-investments  with  CLIC  and 
CLP&C during the term of the agreement will not exceed RMB40,000 million or its equivalent 
in foreign currency, in particular, the contractual amount of the co-investments to be entrusted 
by the Company during the year of 2016 will not exceed RMB23,500 million or its equivalent 
in  foreign  currency,  and  the  contractual  amount  of  the  co-investments  to  be  entrusted  by  the 
Company during the first half of 2017 will not exceed RMB16,500 million or its equivalent in 
foreign currency.

For the year ended 31 December 2015, the Company paid CLI investment management service 
fee  and  performance  incentive  fee  of  RMB167  million  in  total.  As  at  31  December  2015, 
the  contractual  amount  of  the  assets  entrusted  by  the  Company  to  CLI  for  investment  and 
management  amounted  to  RMB98,445  million,  among  which,  the  contractual  amount  of  the 
assets newly entrusted by the Company in its co-investment with CLIC and CLP&C was RMB0 
million.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

3. 

Insurance Sales Framework Agreement
On 18 November 2008, the Company and CLP&C entered into the 2008 insurance sales framework 
agreement,  which  expired  on  17  November  2011.  On  8  March  2012,  the  Company  and  CLP&C 
entered  into  the  2012  insurance  sales  framework  agreement  for  a  term  of  two  years,  which  has  been 
extended  to  7  March  2015  pursuant  to  the  automatic  renewal  clause  of  the  agreement.  On  8  March 
2015,  the  Company  and  CLP&C  entered  into  the  2015  insurance  sales  framework  agreement,  with 
a  term  of  two  years  effective  from  8  March  2015.  The  agreement  will  automatically  be  extended  for 
another year after its expiry unless terminated by either party by giving the other party a written notice 
within 30 days prior to its expiry. Pursuant to the above agreement, CLP&C entrusted the Company 
to  act  as  an  agent  to  sell  selected  insurance  products  within  the  authorized  regions,  and  agreed  to 
pay  an  agency  service  fee  to  the  Company  in  consideration  of  the  services  provided.  For  details  as 
to  the  method  of  calculation  of  the  agency  service  fee,  please  refer  to  Note  33  in  the  Notes  to  the 
Consolidated Financial Statements. The annual caps for the three years ending 31 December 2017 are 
RMB1,386 million, RMB1,738 million and RMB2,222 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  CLP&C  paid  the  Company  an  agency  service  fee  of 
RMB1,464  million,  which  has  slightly  exceeded  the  annual  cap  for  the  year  of  2015.  For  further 
details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 23 March 2016.

4.  Framework Agreements with AMP

(1)  Framework Agreement between the Company and AMP

As approved at the thirteenth meeting of the fourth session of the Board and the 2013 Annual 
General  Meeting,  the  Company  and  AMP  entered  into  the  “Framework  Agreement  in  relation 
to  Subscription  and  Redemption  of  Fund  Products,  Sale  of  Funds,  Asset  Management  for 
Specific  Clients  and  Other  Daily  Transactions”  on  30  May  2014.  The  agreement  became 
effective  upon  signing  by  the  parties  and  will  expire  on  31  December  2016.  Pursuant  to 
the  agreement,  the  Company  and  AMP  will  enter  into  certain  daily  transactions,  including 
subscription  and  redemption  of  fund  products,  sales  agency  services,  asset  management  for 
specific  clients  and  other  daily  transactions  permitted  by  laws  and  regulations.  Pricing  of  the 
transactions  under  the  agreement  shall  be  determined  by  the  parties  through  arm’s  length 
negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry  practices.  For  the  three  years  ending  31  December 
2016,  the  annual  caps  of  the  subscription  price  and  corresponding  subscription  fee  for  the 
subscription  of  fund  products  are  RMB30,000  million,  RMB66,000  million  and  RMB72,600 
million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  the  redemption  price  and  corresponding  redemption 
fee  for  the  redemption  of  fund  products  are  RMB30,000  million,  RMB66,000  million  and 
RMB72,600  million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  the  sales  commission  fee  and  client 
maintenance fee payable by AMP are RMB100 million, RMB300 million and RMB400 million, 
respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  the  management  fee  payable  by  the  Company  for  the  asset 
management  for  specific  clients  are  RMB10  million,  RMB20  million  and  RMB20  million, 
respectively;  and  the  annual  caps  of  the  fees  for  other  daily  transactions  are  RMB50  million, 
RMB100 million and RMB100 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  subscription  price  and  corresponding  subscription 
fee  for  the  subscription  of  fund  products  was  RMB3,910.01  million,  the  redemption  price 
and  corresponding  redemption  fee  for  the  redemption  of  fund  products  was  RMB5,817.71 
million, the sales commission fee and client maintenance fee paid by AMP were RMB0 million, 

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

the  management  fee  paid  by  the  Company  for  the  asset  management  for  specific  clients  was 
RMB1.49 million, and the fees for other daily transactions were RMB0.42 million.

(2)  Framework Agreement between Pension Company and AMP

As approved at the thirteenth meeting of the fourth session of the Board and the 2013 Annual 
General  Meeting,  Pension  Company  and  AMP  entered  into  the  “Framework  Agreement  in 
relation  to  Subscription  and  Redemption  of  Fund  Products,  Sale  of  Funds  and  Other  Daily 
Transactions”  on  4  September  2014.  The  agreement  became  effective  upon  signing  by  the 
parties  and  will  expire  on  31  December  2016.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  Pension  Company 
and  AMP  will  enter  into  certain  daily  transactions,  including  subscription  and  redemption 
of  fund  products,  sales  agency  services  and  other  daily  transactions  permitted  by  laws  and 
regulations.  Pricing  of  the  transactions  under  the  agreement  shall  be  determined  by  the  parties 
through  arm’s  length  negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry  practices.  For  the  three 
years  ending  31  December  2016,  the  annual  caps  of  the  subscription  price  and  corresponding 
subscription  fee  for  the  subscription  of  fund  products  are  RMB5,000  million,  RMB10,000 
million  and  RMB10,000  million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  the  redemption  price  and 
corresponding  redemption  fee  for  the  redemption  of  fund  products  are  RMB5,000  million, 
RMB10,000  million  and  RMB10,000  million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  the  sales 
commission  fee  and  client  maintenance  fee  payable  by  AMP  are  RMB50  million,  RMB100 
million  and  RMB100  million,  respectively;  and  the  annual  caps  of  the  fees  for  other  daily 
transactions are RMB50 million, RMB100 million and RMB100 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  subscription  price  and  corresponding  subscription 
fee  for  the  subscription  of  fund  products  was  RMB0  million,  the  redemption  price  and 
corresponding redemption fee for the redemption of fund products was RMB0 million, the sales 
commission fee and client maintenance fee paid by AMP were RMB0 million, and the fees for 
other daily transactions were RMB0 million.

(3)  Framework Agreement between CLIC and AMP

As approved at the thirteenth meeting of the fourth session of the Board and the 2013 Annual 
General  Meeting,  CLIC  and  AMP  entered  into  the  “Framework  Agreement  in  relation  to 
Subscription  and  Redemption  of  Fund  Products”  on  30  May  2014.  The  agreement  became 
effective  upon  signing  by  the  parties  and  will  expire  on  31  December  2016.  Pursuant  to 
the  agreement,  CLIC  and  AMP  will  enter  into  transactions  in  relation  to  the  subscription 
and  redemption  of  fund  products.  Pricing  of  the  transactions  under  the  agreement  shall  be 
determined  by  the  parties  through  arm’s  length  negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry 
practices.  For  the  three  years  ending  31  December  2016,  the  annual  caps  of  the  subscription 
price  and  corresponding  subscription  fee  for  the  subscription  of  fund  products  are  RMB5,000 
million, RMB10,000 million and RMB10,000 million, respectively; and the annual caps of the 
redemption  price  and  corresponding  redemption  fee  for  the  redemption  of  fund  products  are 
RMB5,000 million, RMB10,000 million and RMB10,000 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  subscription  price  and  corresponding  subscription 
fee  for  the  subscription  of  fund  products  was  RMB6,250.00  million,  and  the  redemption 
price  and  corresponding  redemption  fee  for  the  redemption  of  fund  products  was  RMB555.47 
million.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

(4)  Framework Agreement between CLP&C and AMP

As approved at the thirteenth meeting of the fourth session of the Board and the 2013 Annual 
General  Meeting,  CLP&C  and  AMP  entered  into  the  “Cooperation  Framework  Agreement” 
on 6 June 2014. The agreement became effective upon signing by the parties and will expire on 
31 December 2016. Pursuant to the agreement, CLP&C and AMP will enter into certain daily 
transactions, including subscription and redemption of fund products, sales agency services and 
other daily transactions permitted by laws and regulations. Pricing of the transactions under the 
agreement  shall  be  determined  by  the  parties  through  arm’s  length  negotiations  with  reference 
to  the  industry  practices.  For  the  three  years  ending  31  December  2016,  the  annual  caps  of 
the  subscription  price  for  the  fund  products  are  RMB5,000  million,  RMB10,000  million  and 
RMB10,000 million, respectively; the annual caps of the redemption price for the fund products 
are  RMB5,000  million,  RMB10,000  million  and  RMB10,000  million,  respectively;  the  annual 
caps  of  the  subscription  fee  for  the  fund  products  are  RMB50  million,  RMB100  million  and 
RMB100 million, respectively; the annual caps of the redemption fee for the fund products are 
RMB50  million,  RMB100  million  and  RMB100  million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  the 
sales commission fee and client maintenance fee payable by AMP are RMB50 million, RMB100 
million  and  RMB100  million,  respectively;  and  the  annual  caps  of  the  fees  for  other  daily 
transactions are RMB50 million, RMB100 million and RMB100 million, respectively.

For the year ended 31 December 2015, the subscription price for the fund products was RMB0 
million,  the  redemption  price  for  the  fund  products  was  RMB0  million,  the  subscription  fee 
for the fund products was RMB0 million, the redemption fee for the fund products was RMB0 
million, the sales commission fee and client maintenance fee paid by AMP were RMB0 million, 
and the fees for other daily transactions were RMB0.03 million.

5.  Framework Agreements with CLWM

(1)  Framework Agreement between the Company and CLWM

As approved at the fourth meeting of the fifth session of the Board, the Company and CLWM 
entered  into  the  “Framework  Agreement  in  relation  to  Asset  Management  Services  and  Other 
Daily  Transactions”  on  30  December  2015.  The  agreement  became  effective  upon  signing  by 
the  parties  and  will  expire  on  31  December  2017.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  the  Company 
and  CLWM  will  enter  into  certain  daily  transactions,  including  asset  management  services, 
sale  agency  services  for  asset  management  products  and  other  daily  transactions  permitted 
by  laws  and  regulations.  Pricing  of  the  transactions  under  the  agreement  shall  be  determined 
by  the  parties  through  arm’s  length  negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry  practices.  For 
the  three  years  ending  31  December  2017,  the  annual  caps  of  the  management  fee  payable 
by  the  Company  for  the  asset  management  services  are  RMB55  million,  RMB180  million 
and  RMB240  million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  fees  in  connection  with  the  sale  agency 
services  payable  by  CLWM,  including  the  sales  commission  fee,  client  maintenance  fee, 
handling  fee  and  intermediary  fee  are  RMB25  million,  RMB50  million  and  RMB100  million, 
respectively; the annual caps of the fees for other daily transactions are RMB25 million, RMB50 
million and RMB100 million, respectively.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

For the year ended 31 December 2015, the management fee paid by the Company for the asset 
management  services  was  RMB0  million;  the  fees  in  connection  with  the  sale  agency  services 
paid  by  CLWM,  including  the  sales  commission  fee,  client  maintenance  fee,  handling  fee  and 
intermediary fee were RMB0 million; the fees for other daily transactions were RMB0 million.

(2)  Framework Agreement between CLIC and CLWM

As approved at the fourth meeting of the fifth session of the Board, CLIC and CLWM entered 
into the “Framework Agreement in relation to Asset Management Services” on 26 January 2016. 
The  agreement  became  effective  upon  signing  by  the  parties  and  will  expire  on  31  December 
2017.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  CLIC  will  subscribe  for  the  asset  management  products,  in 
respect of which CLWM acts as the manager, according to its needs of asset allocation. Pricing 
of the transactions under the agreement shall be determined by the parties through arm’s length 
negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry  practices.  For  the  three  years  ending  31  December 
2017,  the  annual  caps  of  the  management  fee  payable  by  CLIC  for  the  asset  management 
services are RMB40 million, RMB70 million and RMB80 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  management  fee  paid  by  CLIC  for  the  asset 
management services was RMB0 million.

(3)  Framework Agreement between CLP&C and CLWM

As  approved  at  the  fourth  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board,  CLP&C  and  CLWM 
entered  into  the  “Framework  Agreement  in  relation  to  Asset  Management  Services  and  Other 
Daily  Transactions”  on  9  March  2016.  The  agreement  became  effective  upon  signing  by 
the  parties  and  will  expire  on  31  December  2017.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  CLP&C  and 
CLWM  will  enter  into  certain  daily  transactions,  including  asset  management  services,  sale 
agency  services  for  asset  management  products  and  other  daily  transactions  permitted  by  laws 
and  regulations.  Pricing  of  the  transactions  under  the  agreement  shall  be  determined  by  the 
parties  through  arm’s  length  negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry  practices.  For  the 
three  years  ending  31  December  2017,  the  annual  caps  of  the  management  fee  payable  by 
CLP&C  for  the  asset  management  services  are  RMB5  million,  RMB180  million  and  RMB300 
million, respectively; the annual caps of fees in connection with the sale agency services payable 
by  CLWM,  including  the  sales  commission  fee,  client  maintenance  fee,  handling  fee  and 
intermediary  fee  are  RMB2  million,  RMB150  million  and  RMB200  million,  respectively;  the 
annual  caps  of  the  fees  for  other  daily  transactions  are  RMB5  million,  RMB50  million  and 
RMB50 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  management  fee  paid  by  CLP&C  for  the  asset 
management  services  was  RMB0  million;  the  fees  in  connection  with  the  sale  agency  services 
paid  by  CLWM,  including  the  sales  commission  fee,  client  maintenance  fee,  handling  fee  and 
intermediary fee were RMB0 million; the fees for other daily transactions were RMB0 million.

48

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

(4)  Framework Agreement between CLO and CLWM

As approved at the fourth meeting of the fifth session of the Board, CLO and CLWM entered 
into  the  “Framework  Agreement  in  relation  to  Asset  Management  Services  and  Other  Daily 
Transactions”  on  30  December  2015.  The  agreement  became  effective  upon  signing  by  the 
parties  and  will  expire  on  31  December  2017.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  CLO  and  CLWM 
will  enter  into  certain  daily  transactions,  including  asset  management  services,  sale  agency 
services  for  asset  management  products  and  other  daily  transactions  permitted  by  laws  and 
regulations.  Pricing  of  the  transactions  under  the  agreement  shall  be  determined  by  the  parties 
through  arm’s  length  negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry  practices.  For  the  three  years 
ending 31 December 2017, the annual caps of the management fee payable by CLO for the asset 
management  services  are  RMB10  million,  RMB30  million  and  RMB50  million,  respectively; 
the annual caps of fees in connection with the sale agency services payable by CLWM, including 
the  sales  commission  fee,  client  maintenance  fee,  handling  fee  and  intermediary  fee  are  RMB5 
million, RMB5 million and RMB10 million, respectively; the annual caps of the fees for other 
daily transactions are RMB5 million, RMB5 million and RMB10 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  management  fee  paid  by  CLO  for  the  asset 
management  services  was  RMB0  million;  the  fees  in  connection  with  the  sale  agency  services 
paid  by  CLWM,  including  the  sales  commission  fee,  client  maintenance  fee,  handling  fee  and 
intermediary fee were RMB0 million; the fees for other daily transactions were RMB0 million.

(5)  Framework Agreement between CLI and CLWM

As  approved  at  the  fourth  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board,  CLI  and  CLWM  entered 
into  the  “Framework  Agreement  in  relation  to  Asset  Management  Services  and  Other  Daily 
Transactions” on 3 February 2016. The agreement became effective upon signing by the parties 
and  will  expire  on  31  December  2017.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  CLI  and  CLWM  will  enter 
into certain daily transactions, including asset management services, sale agency services for asset 
management  products  and  other  daily  transactions  permitted  by  laws  and  regulations.  Pricing 
of the transactions under the agreement shall be determined by the parties through arm’s length 
negotiations  with  reference  to  the  industry  practices.  For  the  three  years  ending  31  December 
2017, the annual caps of the management fee payable by CLI for the asset management services 
are  RMB20  million  (including  the  management  fee  in  an  amount  of  RMB0.4  million  paid  by 
CLI  to  CLWM  for  the  provision  of  asset  management  services  prior  to  the  execution  of  the 
framework  agreement),  RMB30  million  and  RMB50  million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps 
of  fees  in  connection  with  the  sale  agency  services  payable  by  CLWM,  including  the  sales 
commission fee, client maintenance fee, handling fee and intermediary fee are RMB10 million, 
RMB40  million  and  RMB80  million,  respectively;  the  annual  caps  of  the  fees  for  other  daily 
transactions are RMB10 million, RMB40 million and RMB80 million, respectively.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  management  fee  paid  by  CLI  for  the  asset 
management services was RMB0.40 million; the fees in connection with the sale agency services 
paid  by  CLWM,  including  the  sales  commission  fee,  client  maintenance  fee,  handling  fee  and 
intermediary fee were RMB0 million; the fees for other daily transactions were RMB0 million.

49

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

Confirmation 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 the reporting, announcement and/or independent 
shareholders’ approval requirements, and the letter stated that during the Reporting Period:

(1) 

nothing has come to the auditors’ attention that causes them to believe that the disclosed continuing 
connected transactions have not been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors;

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

for transactions involving the provision of goods or services by the Company, nothing has come to the 
auditors’ attention that causes them to believe that the transactions were not, in all material respects, 
in accordance with the pricing policies of the Company;

nothing  has  come  to  the  auditors’  attention  that  causes  them  to  believe  that  the  transactions  were 
not  entered  into,  in  all  material  respects,  in  accordance  with  the  relevant  agreements  governing  such 
transactions; and

except  for  the  agency  service  fee  of  RMB1,464  million  paid  by  CLP&C  to  the  Company  in  2015 
under  the  2015  insurance  sales  framework  agreement,  which  exceeded  the  annual  cap  of  RMB1,386 
million,  nothing  has  come  to  the  auditors’  attention  that  causes  them  to  believe  that  the  amounts 
of  the  continuing  connected  transactions  have  exceeded  the  annual  caps  disclosed  in  the  previous 
announcements of the Company.

Confirmation by Independent Directors
The  Company’s  Independent  Directors  have  reviewed  the  above  continuing  connected  transactions  which 
were subject to the reporting, announcement and/or independent shareholders’ approval requirements, and 
confirmed that:

(1) 

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

(2) 

the transactions were conducted on normal commercial terms;

(3) 

(4) 

the  transactions  were  entered  into  in  accordance  with  the  agreements  governing  those  continuing 
connected transactions, and the terms are fair and reasonable and in the interests of shareholders of the 
Company as a whole; and

except  for  the  agency  service  fee  of  RMB1,464  million  paid  by  CLP&C  to  the  Company  in  2015 
under  the  2015  insurance  sales  framework  agreement,  which  exceeded  the  annual  cap  of  RMB1,386 
million, the amounts of the above transactions have not exceeded the relevant annual caps.

50

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

(II)  Other Major Connected Transactions

1.  Acquisition of Properties from CLI

On 27 June 2012, the Company and CLI entered into the “Property Transfer Framework Agreement”, 
which  was  for  a  term  of  three  years.  Pursuant  to  the  framework  agreement,  the  Company  proposed 
to  acquire  from  CLI  properties  for  use  by  the  Company’s  branches  as  office  premises,  which  consist 
of  1,198  properties  with  a  total  gross  floor  area  of  approximately  803,424.09  square  meters.  The 
properties  shall  be  transferred  in  batches  with  standalone  agreement  to  be  entered  into  for  each 
transfer.  The  actual  purchase  price  of  each  property  shall  be  valued  and  determined  by  the  qualified 
intermediaries  agreed  upon  by  the  parties  with  reference  to  prevailing  market  price.  The  total 
consideration  for  the  property  purchase  is  expected  to  be  no  more  than  RMB1,700  million.  The 
parties shall cooperate with each other to complete the transfer of ownership and deliver the properties 
if standalone property transfer agreements in respect of such properties have been signed prior to the 
expiry of the framework agreement. The parties shall not transfer any properties under the framework 
agreement  if  standalone  property  transfer  agreements  in  respect  of  such  properties  have  not  been 
signed prior to the expiry of the framework agreement.

The  framework  agreement  expired  on  26  June  2015.  As  at  the  expiry  date  of  the  agreement,  40 
properties had been transferred, with a total transaction amount of RMB331 million.

2.  Entrustment of Enterprise Annuity Funds and Account Management Agreement

Since  27  July  2009,  the  Company,  CLIC  and  AMC  have  from  time  to  time  entered  into  the 
entrustment of enterprise annuity funds and account management agreements with Pension Company. 
The  renewed  agreement  between  the  parties  expired  on  1  December  2013.  On  22  March  2014, 
the  Company,  CLIC,  AMC  and  Pension  Company  entered  into  a  new  “Entrustment  of  Enterprise 
Annuity  Funds  and  Account  Management  Agreement  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company 
(including  Supplemental  Terms  for  Account  Management  and  Investment  Management)”,  with  a 
term  from  2  December  2013  to  31  December  2016.  As  a  trustee,  account  manager  and  investment 
manager,  Pension  Company  provides  trusteeship,  account  management  services  and  investment 
management services for the enterprise annuity funds of the Company, CLIC and AMC, and charges 
trustee  management  fees,  account  management  fees  and  investment  management  fees  in  accordance 
with the agreement.

Of the above connected transactions, the transaction in relation to the acquisition of properties from 
CLI  by  the  Company  was  subject  to  the  reporting  and  announcement  requirements  but  was  exempt 
from  the  independent  shareholders’  approval  requirement  pursuant  to  Rule  14A.76(2)  of  the  Listing 
Rules. The Company has complied with the disclosure requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing 
Rules in respect of such connected transaction.

(III) Statement  on  Claims,  Debt  Transactions  and  Guarantees  etc.  with  Connected  Parties 

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

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

III.  MATERIAL CONTRACTS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE

1.  During the Reporting Period, the Company neither acted as trustee, contractor or lessee of other companies’ 
assets,  nor  entrusted,  contracted  or  leased  its  assets  to  other  companies,  the  profit  or  loss  from  which 
accounted  for  10%  or  more  of  the  Company’s  profits  for  the  Reporting  Period,  nor  were  there  any  such 
matters that occurred in previous periods but subsisted during the Reporting Period.

2. 

3. 

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

Entrusted cash asset investment during the Reporting Period or any investment occurred in previous periods 
but  subsisted  during  the  Reporting  Period:  Investment  is  one  of  the  principal  businesses  of  the  Company. 
The  Company  has  adopted  the  mode  of  entrusted  investment  for  management  of  its  investment  assets, 
and  established  a  diversified  framework  of  entrusted  investment  management  with  China  Life’s  internal 
managers playing the key role and the external managers offering effective supports. The internal managers 
include  AMC  and  its  subsidiaries,  and  CLI.  The  external  managers  comprise  both  domestic  and  overseas 
managers,  including  fund  companies,  securities  companies  and  other  professional  investment  management 
institutions.  The  Company  selected  different  investment  managers  based  on  the  purpose  of  allocation  of 
various  types  of  investments,  their  risk  features  and  the  expertise  of  different  managers,  so  as  to  establish 
a  great  variety  of  investment  portfolios  and  improve  the  efficiency  of  capital  utilization.  The  Company 
entered into entrusted investment management agreements with all managers and supervised the managers’ 
daily  investment  performance  through  the  measures  such  as  investment  guidelines,  asset  entrustment  and 
performance appraisals. The Company also adopted risk control measures in respect of specific investments 
based on the characteristics of different managers and investment products.

4. 

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

IV.  U N D E R T A K I N G S  O F  T H E  CO M P A N Y,  SH A R E H O L D E R S,  E F F E C T I V E 

CONTROLLERS,  ACQUIRERS,  DIRECTORS,  SUPERVISORS,  SENIOR  MANAGEMENT 
OR  OTHER  RELATED  PARTIES  WHICH  ARE  EITHER  GIVEN  OR  EFFECTIVE 
DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD
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  square 
meters) 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 square meters) in respect 
of  which  the  formalities  in  relation  to  the  change  of  ownership  had  not  been  completed.  CLIC  undertook  to 
complete the above-mentioned formalities within one year of the date of listing of the Company’s A Shares, and in 
the event that such formalities could not be completed within such period, CLIC would bear any potential losses 
to the Company due to the defective ownership.

CLIC strictly followed these commitments. As at the end of the Reporting Period, save for the two properties and 
related  land  of  the  Company’s  Shenzhen  Branch,  the  ownership  registration  formalities  of  which  had  not  been 
completed due to historical reasons, all other formalities in relation to the change of land and property ownership 
had  been  completed.  The  Shenzhen  Branch  of  the  Company  continues  to  use  such  properties  and  land,  and  no 
other parties have questioned or hindered the use of such properties and land by the Company.

52

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Significant Events

The Company’s Shenzhen Branch and the other co-owners of the properties have issued a letter to the governing 
department of the original owner of the properties in respect of the confirmation of ownership of the properties, 
requesting it to report the ownership issue to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission 
of the State Council (“SASAC”), and requesting the SASAC to confirm the respective shares of each co-owner in 
the properties and to issue written documents in this regard to the department of land and resources of Shenzhen, 
so  as  to  assist  the  Company  and  the  other  co-owners  to  complete  the  formalities  in  relation  to  the  division  of 
ownership of the properties.

Given  that  the  change  of  ownership  of  the  above  two  properties  and  related  land  use  rights  were  directed  by  the 
co-owners,  and  all  formalities  in  relation  to  the  change  of  ownership  were  proceeded  slowly  due  to  reasons  such 
as  issues  rooted  in  history  and  government  approvals,  CLIC  the  controlling  shareholder  of  the  Company,  made 
further commitment as follows: CLIC will assist the Company in completing, and urge the co-owners to complete, 
the formalities in relation to the change of ownership in respect of the above two properties and related land use 
rights as soon as possible. If the formalities cannot be completed due to the reasons of the co-owners, CLIC will 
take  any  other  legally  practicable  measures  to  resolve  the  issue  and  will  bear  any  potential  losses  suffered  by  the 
Company as a result of the defective ownership.

V.  MISCELLANEOUS

1. 

The  Company  issued  the  US$1,280  million  Core  Tier  2  Capital  Securities  at  an  initial  distribution  rate 
of  4.00%  by  way  of  debt  issues  to  professional  investors  only.  The  securities  (Stock  Code:  5540)  were 
permitted for listing and trading on the HKSE on 6 July 2015.

2.  On  29  February  2016,  the  Company  entered  into  the  Share  Purchase  Agreement  with  Citigroup  Inc. 
(“Citigroup”)  and  the  Equity  Transfer  Agreement  with  IBM  Credit  LLC  (“IBM  Credit”)  and  Citigroup. 
Pursuant  to  such  agreements,  the  Company  will  purchase  from  Citigroup  and  IBM  Credit  an  aggregate  of 
3,648,276,645  shares  of  China  Guangfa  Bank  Co.,  Ltd.  (“CGB”)  at  a  price  of  RMB6.39  per  share  for  a 
total consideration of RMB23,312,487,761.55. Upon the closing of the transaction, the Company will hold 
6,728,756,097 shares of CGB, representing 43.686% of the issued share capital of CGB. For details, please 
refer to the announcement published by the Company on the website of the SSE and the HKExnews website 
of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited on 29 February 2016.

53

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Changes in Ordinary Shares and Shareholders Information

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.

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.

3. 

INFORMATION ON SHAREHOLDERS AND EFFECTIVE CONTROLLER

1.  Total number of shareholders and their shareholdings

Total number of 
ordinary share 
shareholders as at 
the end of the 
Reporting Period

No. of A Share shareholders: 
143,316
No. of H Share shareholders: 
30,651

Total number of ordinary 
share shareholders as at the 
end of the month prior to 
the disclosure of this annual 
report

No. of A Share shareholders: 
154,287
No. of H Share shareholders: 
30,639

Particulars of top ten shareholders of the Company 

Unit: Shares

Increase/decrease 
during the 
Reporting Period

Number of shares 
subject to selling 
restrictions

Number of shares 
pledged or frozen

Name of shareholder

Nature of shareholder

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

State-owned legal person

HKSCC Nominees Limited 1

Overseas legal person

China Securities Finance Corporation Limited

State-owned legal person

Central Huijin Asset Management Limited

State-owned legal person

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China 
  Limited-China Southern Flexible 
  Allocation of Consumption and 
  Vitality of Hybrid Securities Investment Fund2

Other

China National Nuclear Corporation3

State-owned legal person

China International Television Corporation3

State-owned legal person

China Universal Asset Management Co., Ltd 
  – Industrial and Commercial Bank of 
  China Limited – China Universal – 
  Tianfu Bull No. 53 Asset Management Plan2

Bank of Communications Co., Ltd – ICBC 
  Credit Suisse Internet Plus Stock 
  Equity Securities Investment Fund

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China 
  Limited-SSE 50 Exchange Traded Index 
  Securities Investment Fund2

Other

Other

Other

Total number of 
shares held as at  
the end of the 
Reporting Period

19,323,530,000

–

7,314,012,229

+19,573,721

520,692,410

+489,145,438

119,719,900

+119,719,900

34,367,716

+34,367,716

20,000,000

18,452,300

15,015,845

–

–

+15,015,845

Percentage of 
shareholding

68.37%

25.88%

1.84%

0.42%

0.12%

0.07%

0.07%

0.05%

0.05%

12,903,409

+12,903,409

0.04%

11,996,529

+1,675,837

54

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Changes in Ordinary Shares and Shareholders Information

Details of shareholders

1. 

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 pledged or frozen. 

Hence, HKSCC Nominees Limited is unable to calculate or provide the number of shares that are pledged or frozen.

Both Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited-China Southern Flexible Allocation of Consumption and Vitality of Hybrid Securities 

Investment Fund and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited-SSE 50 Exchange Traded Index Securities Investment Fund have 

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited as their fund depositary. China Universal Asset Management Co., Ltd – Industrial and 

Commercial Bank of China Limited – China Universal – Tianfu Bull No.53 Asset Management Plan has Industrial and Commercial Bank of 

China Limited as its asset trustee. Save as 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.

3. 

China National Nuclear Corporation and China International Television Corporation became the top 10 shareholders of the Company through 

the strategic placement during the initial public offering of A Shares of the Company in December 2006. The trading restriction period of the 

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

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

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

Legal representative

Yang Mingsheng

Date of incorporation

Major businesses

Shareholdings in other 
subsidiaries and affiliates listed 
in China or abroad during the 
Reporting Period

21  July  2003  (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.)

Insurance  services  including  receipt  of  premiums  and  payment  of  benefits  in 
respect  of  the  in-force  life,  health,  accident  and  other  types  of  personal  insurance 
business,  and  the  reinsurance  business;  holding  or  investing  in  domestic  and 
overseas  insurance  companies  or  other  financial  insurance  institutions;  funds 
management  business  permitted  by  national  laws  and  regulations  or  approved  by 
the  State  Council  of  the  PRC;  other  businesses  approved  by  insurance  regulatory 
agencies.

As  at  31  December  2015,  CLIC  held  1,785,098,644  shares  (H  shares)  of  Town 
Health  International  Medical  Group  Limited,  representing  23.90%  of  its  total 
shares.

55

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Changes in Ordinary Shares and Shareholders Information

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 of the PRC

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 the Directors, Supervisors and the chief executive of the Company, as at 31 December 2015, 
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 Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 
571  of  the  Laws  of  Hong  Kong)  (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

Class of shares

Number of 
shares held

Percentage of 
the respective 
class of shares

Percentage of 
the total number 
of shares issued

Beneficial owner

A Shares

19,323,530,000 (L)

92.80%

68.37%

China Life Insurance (Group) 
  Company

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Note 1)

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

H Shares

549,486,256 (L)
94,911,965 (S)
318,375,062 (P)

7.38%
1.27%
4.27%

6.15%

1.94%
0.34%
1.13%

1.62%

BlackRock, Inc. (Note 2)

Interest in controlled corporation

H Shares

457,721,642 (L)

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

56

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Changes in Ordinary Shares and Shareholders Information

(Note 1):  JPMorgan  Chase  &  Co.  was  interested  in  a  total  of  549,486,256  H  shares  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Part 
XV  of  the  SFO.  Of  these  shares,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities  LLC,  J.P.  Morgan  Clearing  Corp,  J.P.  Morgan  Investment 

Management Inc., J.P. Morgan GT Corporation, J.P. Morgan Trust Company of Delaware, J.P. Morgan Whitefriars 

Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities plc, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Chase Bank Berhad and JPMorgan Asset 

Management (UK) Limited were interested in 16,807,782 H shares, 1,467,859 H shares, 629,000 H shares, 1,500,000 

H  shares,  6,240  H  shares,  136,758,345  H  shares,  66,721,185  H  shares,  318,378,337  H  shares,  6,913,508  H  shares 

and  304,000  H  shares  respectively.  All  of  these  entities  are  either  controlled  or  indirectly  controlled  subsidiaries  of 

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Included  in  the  549,486,256  H  shares  are  318,375,062  H  shares  (4.27%),  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.  Of  these  549,486,256  H  shares,  19,857,255  H  shares  were  physically  settled  listed  derivatives,  248,000 

H  shares  were  cash  settled  listed  derivatives,  3,474,035  H  shares  were  physically  settled  unlisted  derivatives  and 
43,193,173 H shares were cash settled unlisted derivatives.

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

94,911,965  H  shares  (1.27%).  Of  these  94,911,965  H  shares,  18,090,240  H  shares  were  physically  settled  listed 

derivatives, 22,997,300 H shares were cash settled listed derivatives, 58,131 H shares were physically settled unlisted 

derivatives and 53,346,794 H shares were cash settled unlisted derivatives.

(Note 2):  BlackRock, Inc. was interested in a total of 457,721,642 H shares in accordance with the provisions of Part XV of the 
SFO. Of these shares, BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., BlackRock 

Institutional Trust Company, National Association, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Advisors, LLC, BlackRock 

Japan  Co.,  Ltd.,  BlackRock  Asset  Management  Canada  Limited,  BlackRock  Investment  Management  (Australia) 

Limited,  BlackRock  Asset  Management  North  Asia  Limited,  BlackRock  (Netherlands)  B.V.,  BlackRock  Advisors 

(UK)  Limited,  BlackRock  International  Limited,  BlackRock  Asset  Management  Ireland  Limited,  BLACKROCK 

(Luxembourg)  S.A.,  BlackRock  Investment  Management  (UK)  Limited,  BlackRock  Asset  Management  Deutschland 

AG,  BlackRock  Fund  Managers  Limited,  BlackRock  Life  Limited,  BlackRock  (Singapore)  Limited  and  BlackRock 

Asset Management (Schweiz) AG were interested in 2,767,315 H shares, 1,733,000 H shares, 106,339,385 H shares, 

166,381,000 H shares, 216,000 H shares, 8,566,352 H shares, 2,397,165 H shares, 953,000 H shares, 23,232,127 H 

shares,  2,919,000  H  shares,  59,540,161  H  shares,  3,022,700  H  shares,  45,276,186  H  shares,  14,313,000  H  shares, 

15,954,251  H  shares,  363,000  H  shares,  3,202,000  H  shares,  244,000  H  shares,  266,000  H  shares  and  36,000  H 

shares respectively. All of these entities are either controlled or indirectly controlled subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. Of 

these 457,721,642 H shares, 561,000 H shares were cash settled unlisted derivatives.

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 2015, 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.

57

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

I  DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

1.  CURRENT DIRECTORS

Other benefits, 
social insurance, 
housing 
provident fund 
and enterprise 
annuity fund 
paid by the 
Company 
in RMB ten 
thousands

Total 
emoluments 
received from 
the Company 
during the 
Reporting 
Period in RMB 
ten thousands 
(before tax)

Whether 
received 
emolument 
from the 
connected 
parties

Number 
of shares 
held at the 
beginning of 
the year

Number of 
shares held 
at the end of 
the year

Remuneration 
paid/fee in 
RMB ten 
thousands

Reason for 
changes

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

0

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

43.52

39.78

19.67

19.67

0

0

0

0

30.00

32.00

16.00

0

/

16.67

31.40

11.79

11.57

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

/

60.19

71.18

31.46

31.24

0

0

0

0

30.00

32.00

16.00

0

272.07

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

/

Name

Position

Gender

Age

Term

Male

60

Since 22 May 2012

Yang Mingsheng

Lin Dairen

Xu Hengping

Xu Haifeng

Miao Jianmin

Chairman, 
Executive Director

Executive Director

Executive Director

Executive Director

Male

Male

Male

Non-executive Director Male

Zhang Xiangxian

Non-executive Director Male

Wang Sidong

Liu Jiade

Non-executive Director Male

Non-executive Director Male

Anthony Francis Neoh

Independent Director

Chang Tso Tung Stephen Independent Director

Robinson Drake Pike

Independent Director

Independent Director

/

Tang Xin

Total

Notes:

Male

Male

Male

Male

/

57

57

56

51

60

54

53

69

67

64

44

/

Since 27 October 2008

Since 11 July 2015

Since 11 July 2015

Since 27 October 2008

Since 24 July 2012

Since 24 July 2012

Since 11 July 2015

Since 21 June 2010

Since 20 October 2014

Since 11 July 2015

Since 7 March 2016

/

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 serve for 

more than six years.

2. 

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

report. The emoluments are calculated based on their terms of office during the Reporting Period.

3.  With the approval given at the 2014 Annual General Meeting held on 28 May 2015, the fifth session of the Board 

of Directors of the Company was elected, and on the same date, the first meeting of the fifth session of the Board 

of  Directors  was  held,  which  elected  Mr.  Yang  Mingsheng  as  the  Chairman  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  of 

Directors  of  the  Company.  With  the  approval  given  at  the  2014  Annual  General  Meeting  and  the  approval  from 

the CIRC, Mr. Xu Hengping, Mr. Xu Haifeng, Mr. Liu Jiade and Mr. Robinson Drake Pike were appointed as the 

Directors with effect from 11 July 2015. With the approval given at the First Extraordinary General Meeting 2015 

and the approval from the CIRC, Mr. Tang Xin was appointed as a Director with effect from 7 March 2016.

4. 

According to the requirements of the relevant PRC policies, 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 disclosed when the 

final amount is confirmed.

58

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

2.  CURRENT SUPERVISORS

Other benefits, 
social insurance, 
housing 
provident fund 
and enterprise 
annuity fund 
paid by the 
Company 
in RMB ten 
thousands

Total 
emoluments 
received from 
the Company 
during the 
Reporting 
Period in RMB 
ten thousands 
(before tax)

Number 
of shares 
held at the 
beginning of 
the year

Number of 
shares held 
at the end of 
the year

Remuneration 
paid/fee in 
RMB ten 
thousands

Reason for 
changes

Name

Position

Gender

Age

Term

Chairman of the 
  Supervisory Committee

Supervisor

Supervisor

Employee Representative 
  Supervisor

Employee Representative 
  Supervisor

Male

57

Since 11 July 2015

Male

Female

Male

56

47

47

Since 25 May 2009

Since 20 October 2014

Since 11 July 2015

Female

52

Since 11 July 2015

/

/

/

/

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

/

/

/

/

/

/

19.67

126.14

0

68.43

55.91

12.00

34.21

0

13.75

13.65

31.67

160.35

0

82.18

69.56

/

/

343.76

Miao Ping

Shi Xiangming

Xiong Junhong

Zhan Zhong

Wang Cuifei

Total

Notes:

Whether 
received 
emolument 
from the 
connected 
parties

No

No

Yes

No

No

/

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 this annual 

report. The emoluments are calculated based on their terms of office during the Reporting Period.

3.  With  the  approval  given  at  the  2014  Annual  General  Meeting  held  on  28  May  2015,  the  fifth  session  of  the 

Supervisory Committee of the Company was elected. With the approval given at the 2014 Annual General Meeting 

and the approval from the CIRC, Mr. Miao Ping was appointed as a Non Employee Representative Supervisor of 

the Company with effect from 11 July 2015. With the approval given at the first meeting of the second session of 

the  Employee  Representative  Meeting  of  the  Company  and  the  approval  from  the  CIRC,  Mr.  Zhan  Zhong  and 

Ms. Wang Cuifei were appointed as Employee Representative Supervisors of the Company with effect from 11 July 

2015. The first meeting of the fifth session of the Supervisory Committee was held on 24 July 2015, which elected 

Mr. Miao Ping as the Chairman of the fifth session of the Supervisory Committee of the Company.

4. 

According to the requirements of the relevant PRC policies, the final amount of emoluments of the Chairman of 

the  Supervisory  Committee  is  currently  subject  to  review  and  approval.  The  result  of  the  review  will  be  disclosed 

when the final amount is confirmed.

59

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

3.  CURRENT SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Other benefits, 
social insurance, 
housing 
provident fund 
and enterprise 
annuity fund 
paid by the 
Company 
in RMB ten 
thousands

Total 
emoluments 
received from 
the Company 
during the 
Reporting 
Period in RMB 
ten thousands 
(before tax)

Whether 
received 
emolument 
from the 
connected 
parties

Number 
of share 
held at the 
beginning of 
the year

Number of 
share held at 
the end of 
the year

Remuneration 
paid in RMB 
ten thousands

Reason for 
changes

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

39.78

39.34

39.34

39.34

39.34

18.35

36.69

/

31.40

30.44

30.86

30.69

31.26

14.71

34.66

/

71.18

69.78

70.20

70.03

70.60

33.06

71.35

456.20

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

/

Position

President

Vice President

Vice President

Vice President, 
Chief Actuary

Vice President

Assistant President

Board Secretary

/

Gender

Age

Term

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

/

57

57

56

46

45

47

53

/

Since April 2014

Since November 2014

Since November 2014

As Vice President since 
November 2014 and 
Chief Actuary since 
March 2012

Since November 2014

Since July 2015

Since June 2013

/

Name

Lin Dairen

Xu Hengping

Xu Haifeng

Li Mingguang

Yang Zheng

Xiao Jianyou

Zheng Yong

Total

Notes:

1. 

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

submission  date  of  this  annual  report.  The  emoluments  are  calculated  based  on  their  terms  of  office  during  the 

Reporting Period.

2. 

According  to  the  requirements  of  the  relevant  PRC  policies,  the  final  amount  of  emoluments  of  the  Senior 

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

amount is confirmed.

3.  With the approval given at the first meeting of the fifth session of the Board of Directors of the Company and the 

approval  from  the  CIRC,  Mr.  Xiao  Jianyou  was  appointed  as  an  Assistant  President  of  the  Company  with  effect 

from 21 July 2015.

60

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

4.  RESIGNATION  AND  RETIREMENT  OF  DIRECTORS,  SUPERVISORS  AND 

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Name

Previous Position Gender

Age

Term

Number of 
share held at 
the beginning 
of the year

Number of 
share held at 
the end of the 
year

Remuneration 
paid/fee in 
RMB ten 
thousands

Reason for 
changes

Other 
benefits, social 
insurance, 
housing 
provident fund 
and enterprise 
annuity fund 
paid by the 
Company 
in RMB ten 
thousands

Total 
emoluments 
received from 
the Company 
during the 
Reporting 
Period in RMB 
ten thousands 
(before tax)

Whether 
received 
emolument 
from the 
connected 
parties

Reason for changes

0

0

0

0

0

0

/

/

/

/

/

/

Su Hengxuan

Executive Director Male

53

Vice President

Miao Ping

Executive Director Male

57

1 July 2014 –  
8 May 2015

August 2008 –  
8 May 2015

1 July 2014 –  
28 May 2015

December 2009 – 
May 2015

Bruce Douglas 
  Moore

Huang Yiping

Xia Zhihua

Yang Cuilian

Li Xuejun

Vice President

Independent 
Director

Independent 
Director

Chairperson of 
the Supervisory 
Committee

Employee 
Representative 
Supervisor

Employee 
Representative 
Supervisor

Male

66

4 June 2009 –  
28 May 2015

Male

52

20 October 2014 –  
7 March 2016

Female

61

16 March 2006 – 
11 July 2015

Female

51

24 July 2012 –  
11 July 2015

Male

45

24 July 2012 –  
11 July 2015

Liu Anlin

Vice President

Male

52

March 2013 – 
March 2015

Huang Xiumei

Financial 
Controller

Female

48

December 2014 – 
February 2016

Total

/

/

/

/

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

13.11

13.17

26.28

Yes

Resigned due to adjustment of work 
arrangements

19.67

19.45

39.12

No

Retired due to the expiration of session of the 
Board

Retired due to adjustment of work 
arrangements

13.33

32.00

0

0

13.33

No

Retired due to the expiration of session of the 
Board

32.00

No

Resigned according to relevant policies

No

No

No

Yes

No

/

Retired due to the expiration of session of the 
Supervisory Committee

Retired due to the expiration of session of the 
Supervisory Committee

Retired due to the expiration of session of the 
Supervisory Committee

Resigned due to adjustment of work 
arrangements

Retired due to adjustment of work 
arrangements

/

22.95

21.35

44.30

67.76

21.82

89.58

73.28

21.48

94.76

2,000

Bought from 
the secondary 
market

0

0

2,000

/

/

/

9.84

8.23

18.07

36.69

35.85

72.54

/

/

429.98

61

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

DIRECTORS

Mr. Yang Mingsheng, born in 1955, Chinese
Mr.  Yang  became  the  Chairman  and  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Company  in  May  2012. 
He  has  been  the  Chairman  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  since  March  2012,  the 
Chairman  of  China  Life  Property  and  Casualty  Insurance  Company  Limited  since  March  2012, 
the  Chairman  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Overseas)  Company  Limited  since  January  2013,  and 
the  Chairman  of  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited  since  December  2013.  Mr. 
Yang has many years of experience in financial industry. He acted as the Vice Chairman of China 
Insurance Regulatory Commission from 2007 to 2012, and worked in Agricultural Bank of China 
from  1980  to  2007,  where  he  held  various  positions  such  as  the  Vice  President  of  Shenyang 
Branch,  Head  of  Industrial  Credit  Department  and  President  of  Tianjin  Branch.  He  was 
appointed as the Vice President of Agricultural Bank of China in 1997 and was then promoted to 
the  President  of  Agricultural  Bank  of  China  in  2003.  Mr.  Yang,  a  Senior  Economist,  graduated 
from the Faculty of Finance of Nankai University, majoring in Monetary Banking with a Master’s 
degree in Economics.

Mr. Lin Dairen, born in 1958, Chinese
Mr.  Lin  became  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Company  in  October  2008,  and  was  appointed  as 
the  President  of  the  Company  by  the  Board  in  March  2014.  He  serves  concurrently  as  a  Non-
executive Director of China Life Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited, China Life 
Pension  Company  Limited  and  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited.  He  served  as 
the  Vice  President  of  the  Company  from  2003  to  March  2014,  and  an  Executive  Director  and 
the  President  of  China  Life  Pension  Company  Limited  from  November  2006  to  March  2014. 
Mr.  Lin  graduated  with  a  Bachelor’s  degree  in  Medicine  from  Shandong  Province  Changwei 
Medical  Institute  in  1982.  Mr.  Lin,  a  Senior  Economist,  has  over  30  years  of  experience  in  the 
operation  of  the  life  insurance  business  and  insurance  management,  and  was  awarded  special 
allowance  by  the  State  Council.  He  is  currently  the  Chairman  of  the  China  Life  Foundation, 
the  Vice  Chairman  of  the  Insurance  Institute  of  China  and  the  Insurance  Association  of  China, 
the Director of the Life Insurance Committee of the Insurance Association of China and a Non-
executive Director of China’s Insurance Protection Fund Co., Ltd.

62

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Xu Hengping, born in 1958, Chinese
Mr.  Xu  became  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Company  in  July  2015.  He  has  been  the  Vice 
President  of  the  Company  since  November  2014,  the  Chief  Operating  Officer  of  the  Company 
since August 2010, the General Manager of the Company’s Fujian Branch since April 2007, the 
Deputy  General  Manager  of  the  Company’s  Fujian  Branch  since  December  2002,  an  Assistant 
to the General Manager of the Company’s Fujian Branch since September  1998,  and a  Director 
of  Personal  Insurance  Division  of  the  Company’s  Fujian  Branch  since  July  1996.  Mr.  Xu  once 
served as the General Manager of the Sales Department and General Manager of Longyan Branch 
of Fuzhou Life Insurance Company Limited. Mr. Xu graduated from Hunan University, majoring 
in Finance. Mr. Xu, a Senior Economist, has over 30 years of experience in operation of the life 
insurance business and insurance management.

Mr. Xu Haifeng, born in 1959, Chinese
Mr.  Xu  became  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Company  in  July  2015.  He  has  been  the  Vice 
President  of  the  Company  since  November  2014.  He  has  been  the  Business  Controller  of  the 
Company since February 2014, and concurrently serves as the General Manager of Hebei Branch 
of  the  Company.  Mr.  Xu  served  as  the  General  Manager  of  Beijing  Branch  and  the  General 
Manager  of  Hebei  Branch  of  the  Company  from  2006  to  2014.  Prior  to  that,  Mr.  Xu  served 
as  the  Deputy  General  Manager  and  General  Manager  of  Linyi  Branch  in  Shandong  Province 
and  the  General  Manager  of  the  Sales  Management  Department  in  Shandong  Branch  of  the 
Company,  the  General  Manager  of  Jinan  Branch  and  the  Deputy  General  Manager  of  Beijing 
Branch  of  the  Company.  Mr.  Xu  graduated  from  Linyi  Foreign  Language  Normal  University  in 
1982, from Shandong Provincial Party School majoring in Economic Management in 1996, and 
obtained  a  Master’s  degree  in  Business  Administration  from  Zhongnan  University  of  Economics 
and Law in 2007. Mr. Xu, a Senior Economist, has over 30 years of experience in the operation of 
life insurance business and insurance management.

Mr. Miao Jianmin, born in 1965, Chinese
Mr.  Miao  became  a  Non-executive  Director  of  the  Company  in  October  2008.  He  is  the  Vice 
Chairman  and  President  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company.  He  is  concurrently  a 
Director  of  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited,  a  Director  of  China  World  Trade 
Center Co., Ltd., and an Executive Director of China Finance 40 Forum. He was awarded special 
allowance by the State Council. In 2009, he was named as a “State-level Candidate for the New 
Century  Talents  Project”  and  one  of  the  “60  People  in  China  Insurance  Industry  in  the  60-
year  History  of  New  China”.  Mr.  Miao  graduated  from  the  Central  University  of  Finance  and 
Economics  with  a  Doctorate  in  Economics.  Before  that,  Mr.  Miao  graduated  from  the  post-
graduate  division  of  the  People’s  Bank  of  China  with  a  Master’s  degree  in  Money  and  Banking, 
and the Central University of Finance and Economics with a Bachelor’s degree in Insurance. Mr. 
Miao is a Senior Economist.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Zhang Xiangxian, born in 1955, Chinese
Mr.  Zhang  became  a  Non-executive  Director  of  the  Company  in  July  2012.  He  has  been  the 
Secretary of Commission for Disciplinary Inspection of China Life Insurance (Group) Company 
since  October  2006,  and  the  Vice  President  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  since 
August 2008. Mr. Zhang has many years of experience in the insurance industry and held various 
positions from 1993 to 2006, including the Director of the Promotion Division of General Office 
and  Deputy  General  Manager  of  General  Office  of  the  People’s  Insurance  Company  of  China, 
the Office Director of the CIRC, the Deputy Office Director (responsible for daily operation) of 
Shenzhen  office  of  the  CIRC,  and  the  Director  of  Administrative  Department  of  Representative 
Agencies of the CIRC. Mr. Zhang is a Senior Editor and obtained a Master’s degree in Business 
Administration for senior management from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.

Mr. Wang Sidong, born in 1961, Chinese
Mr. Wang became a Non-executive Director of the Company in July 2012. He has been the Vice 
President  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company,  the  Chairman  of  China  Life  Investment 
Holding  Company  Limited,  and  a  Director  of  China  Life  Pension  Company  Limited  since 
June  2004.  Mr.  Wang  worked  for  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Economic  Relations  and  Trade,  the 
Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch, and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association. 
He  served  as  the  Deputy  Director  of  the  General  Office  of  China  Life  Insurance  Company,  the 
Deputy General Manager of its Zhejiang Branch and the Deputy Director of the Shares Reform 
Office of China Life from 2000. Mr. Wang was the Director of the General Office of China Life 
Insurance (Group) Company in 2003. Mr. Wang, a Senior Economist, graduated from Shandong 
University with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, majoring in Chinese Language and Literature.

Mr. Liu Jiade, born in 1963, Chinese
Mr. Liu became a Non-executive Director of the Company in July 2015. He is the Vice President 
of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  and  the  Chairman  of  China  Life  Pension  Company 
Limited.  Mr.  Liu  has  been  a  Director  of  China  Guangfa  Bank  Co.,  Ltd.  since  December  2006 
and a Supervisor of Sinopec Sales Company Limited since March 2015. He served as the Deputy 
Director  and  the  Director  of  the  Trade  and  Finance  Department  of  the  Ministry  of  Finance, 
the  Deputy  County  Magistrate  (as  a  titular  position)  of  Guantao  County  People’s  Government 
in  Hebei  Province,  and  the  Deputy  Director  of  the  Finance  Department  of  the  Ministry  of 
Finance.  Mr.  Liu  served  as  the  Vice  President  of  the  Company  from  2003  to  March  2014,  and 
also  concurrently  served  as  a  Director  of  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited,  a 
Director  of  China  Life  Property  and  Casualty  Insurance  Company  Limited,  and  a  Director  of 
China  Life  Franklin  Asset  Management  Company  Limited.  He  is  currently  a  member  of  the 
Accounting Informatization Committee of the Ministry of Finance. Mr. Liu, a Senior Economist, 
graduated  from  the  Central  Finance  College  (now  known  as  the  Central  University  of  Finance 
and Economics) majoring in Finance with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh, born in 1946, Chinese
Mr.  Neoh  became  an  Independent  Director  of  the  Company  in  June  2010.  He  currently  serves 
as a member of the International Consultation Committee of the CSRC. He previously served as 
Chief  Advisor  to  the  CSRC,  a  member  of  the  Basic  Law  Committee  of  the  Hong  Kong  Special 
Administrative  Region  under  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  National  People’s  Congress  of 
China, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, etc. From 1996 
to 1998, he was the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the International Organization of 
Securities Commissions. He was appointed as Queen’s Counsel (since retitled as Senior Counsel) 
in  Hong  Kong  in  1990.  Mr.  Neoh  graduated  from  the  University  of  London  with  a  Bachelor’s 
degree  in  Law  in  1976.  He  is  a  barrister  of  England  and  Wales  and  admitted  to  the  State  Bar 
of  California.  In  2003,  he  was  conferred  the  Doctorate  in  Laws,  honoris  causa,  by  the  Chinese 
University of Hong Kong. He was elected Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Securities Institute 
and Academician of the International Euro-Asian Academy of Sciences in 2009. Mr. Neoh was a 
Non-executive  Director  of  Global  Digital  Creations  Holdings  Limited  from  November  2002  to 
December 2005, and the Manager of the Link Real Estate Investment Trust and an Independent 
Non-executive Director of the Link Management Limited from September 2004 to March 2006. 
He  served  as  an  Independent  Non-executive  Director  of  Bank  of  China  Limited  from  August 
2004  to  September  2013.  Since  December  2014,  he  has  been  an  Independent  Non-executive 
Director  of  CITIC  Limited.  Since  April  2015,  he  has  been  an  Independent  Non-executive 
Director of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Co., Ltd.

Mr. Chang Tso Tung Stephen, born in 1948, Chinese
Mr.  Chang  became  an  Independent  Director  of  the  Company  in  October  2014.  He  served  as 
the  Vice  Chairman  of  the  Greater  China  Region  of  Ernst  &  Young,  the  Managing  Partner  for 
professional  services  and  the  Chairman  of  auditing  and  consulting  service  of  Ernst  &  Young 
until his retirement in 2004. From 2007 to 2013, Mr. Chang was an Independent Non-executive 
Director  of  China  Pacific  Insurance  (Group)  Co.,  Ltd.  Mr.  Chang  is  currently  an  Independent 
Non-executive  Director  of  China  Cinda  Asset  Management  Co.,  Ltd.,  Kerry  Properties  Limited 
and Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited, all of which are listed on the HKSE. Mr. Chang has been 
practicing  as  a  certified  public  accountant  in  Hong  Kong  for  around  30  years  and  has  extensive 
experience  in  accounting,  auditing  and  financial  management.  Mr.  Chang  holds  a  Bachelor 
of  Science  degree  from  the  University  of  London,  and  is  a  fellow  member  of  the  Institute  of 
Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Robinson Drake Pike, born in 1951, American
Mr.  Pike  became  an  Independent  Director  of  the  Company  in  July  2015.  Before  his  retirement 
from Goldman Sachs in 2014, Mr. Pike served as the Managing Director of Goldman Sachs and 
the  Chief  Representative  of  the  Beijing  Representative  Office  of  Goldman  Sachs  International 
Bank  UK  from  August  2011  to  May  2014,  and  the  Managing  Director  of  Goldman  Sachs  and 
the senior advisor and project coordinator sent to the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China 
by  Goldman  Sachs  from  January  2007  to  August  2011.  From  July  2000  to  December  2006,  he 
was the Senior Vice President of Lehman Brothers and the Deputy Head and Head of Asia Credit 
Risk  Management  of  Lehman  Brothers.  Mr.  Pike  currently  sits  on  the  four-member  Committee 
of Inspection of Peregrine Fixed Income Limited. He has over 30 years of experience in the Asian 
financial  industry  with  a  focus  on  risk  management  and  China’s  banking  industry.  He  holds  a 
Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Yale University and a Master of 
Public  Affairs  degree  in  development  economics  from  Princeton  University’s  Woodrow  Wilson 
School.

Mr. Tang Xin, born in 1971, Chinese
Mr. Tang became an Independent Director of the Company in March 2016. He is a professor of 
the  School  of  Law  of  Tsinghua  University,  the  Deputy  Head  of  the  Commercial  Law  Research 
Center  of  Tsinghua  University,  an  associate  editor  of  “Tsinghua  Law  Review”,  a  member  of  the 
Listing  Committee  of  the  Shanghai  Stock  Exchange,  the  Chairman  of  the  Independent  Director 
Committee  of  the  Listed  Companies  Association  of  the  PRC,  and  an  Independent  Director  of 
each of Harvest Fund Management Co., Ltd., GF Securities Co., Ltd., and Oriza Holdings Co., 
Ltd. Mr. Tang was elected as a member of the first and second sessions of the Merger, Acquisition 
and  Reorganization  Review  Committee  of  the  China  Securities  Regulatory  Commission  from 
2008  to  2010.  He  served  as  an  Independent  Director  of  China  Spacesat  Co.,  Ltd.  from  2008 
to  2014,  an  Independent  Director  of  each  of  SDIC  Power  Holdings  Co.,  Ltd.  and  Changjiang 
Securities  Company  Limited  from  2009  to  2013,  and  an  Independent  Director  of  Beijing  Rural 
Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. from 2009 to 2015. Mr. Tang graduated from Renmin University of 
China with Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Law.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

SUPERVISORS

Mr. Miao Ping, born in 1958, Chinese
Mr.  Miao  became  the  Chairman  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company  in  July  2015. 
He  has  been  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Company  since  July  2014,  the  Vice  President  of  the 
Company  since  December  2009,  the  General  Manager  of  the  Company’s  Jiangsu  Branch  since 
September  2006,  the  General  Manager  of  the  Company’s  Jiangxi  Branch  since  September  2004, 
and  the  Deputy  General  Manager  of  the  Company’s  Jiangsu  Branch  since  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  over  30  years  of  experience  in 
the operation of life insurance business and the management of insurance business.

Mr. Shi Xiangming, born in 1959, Chinese
Mr.  Shi  became  a  Supervisor  of  the  Company  in  May  2009,  and  has  been  the  General  Manager 
of the Supervisory Department of the Company since September 2008. Mr. Shi served as Deputy 
General  Manager  of  the  Human  Resources  Department  and  Office  Director  of  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  first  branch  college  of  Peking  University 
with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Ms. Xiong Junhong, born in 1968, Chinese
Ms.  Xiong  became  a  Supervisor  of  the  Company  in  October  2014.  She  is  a  Senior  Economist 
with  a  PhD  in  Finance  from  Nankai  University.  From  July  1993  to  August  2003,  Ms.  Xiong 
worked  at  the  Banking  Department  and  Trust  Department  of  China  People’s  Insurance  Trust 
and  Investment  Company,  and  the  Assets  Management  Department  of  China  Life  Insurance 
Company.  Ms.  Xiong  has  been  the  Director  of  the  Assets  Management  Department  of  China 
Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  since  September  2003,  the  Senior  Manager  of  the  Strategic 
Planning  Department  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company  since  August  2006,  an 
Assistant to the General Manager of the Strategic Planning Department of China Life Insurance 
(Group)  Company  since  September  2008,  an  Assistant  to  the  General  Manager  (equivalent  to 
the  rank  of  departmental  deputy  general  manager  of  China  Life  Insurance  (Group)  Company) 
of the Company’s Hebei Branch since December 2010, and the Deputy General Manager of the 
Strategic Planning Department of China Life Insurance (Group) Company since June 2013. Ms. 
Xiong  has  many  years  of  experience  in  strategic  management  and  investment  research,  and  has 
extensive  working  experience  in  assets  preservation,  risk  management,  management  of  retained 
assets, investment research and strategic planning.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Zhan Zhong, born in 1968, Chinese
Mr. Zhan became a Supervisor of the Company in July 2015. He has been the General Manager 
of  the  Individual  Insurance  Division  of  the  Company  (general  manager  level  of  provincial 
branches)  since  July  2014.  Mr.  Zhan  served  as  the  General  Manager  of  the  Company’s  Qinghai 
Branch  from  January  2014  to  June  2014.  Mr.  Zhan  joined  the  Company  in  November  1994, 
and  has  successively  served  as  the  General  Manager  of  the  Individual  Insurance  Division  of  the 
Company’s Guangdong Branch, Assistant to the General Manager of the Company’s Guangdong 
Branch,  Deputy  General  Manager  (responsible  for  daily  operation)  and  General  Manager  of  the 
Individual  Insurance  Division  of  the  Company  and  Deputy  Secretary  of  the  Party  Committee 
and  Deputy  General  Manager  (responsible  for  daily  operation)  of  the  Company’s  Qinghai 
Branch. Mr. Zhan graduated from Kunming Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s degree in 
Computer and Automation.

Ms. Wang Cuifei, born in 1964, Chinese
Ms.Wang became a Supervisor of the Company in July 2015. She has been the General Manager 
of  the  Customer  Services  Department  of  the  Company  since  September  2014.  Ms.  Wang  served 
as the General Manager of the Sales Inspection Department of the Company from March 2009 to 
August 2014. She joined the Company in July 2001, and has served successively as the person-in-
charge (deputy director level) and General Manager (division level) of the Training Management 
Division  of  the  Brokerage  Agency  Department,  Deputy  General  Manager  of  the  Bancassurance 
Department  and  General  Manager  of  the  Sales  Inspection  Department  of  the  Company.  Ms. 
Wang  graduated  from  the  Party  School  of  the  Central  Committee  of  CPC  with  a  Bachelor’s 
degree in Economic Management.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

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

Mr. Xu Hengping, please see the section “Directors” for his profile.

Mr. Xu Haifeng, please see the section “Directors” for his profile.

Mr. Li Mingguang, born in 1969, Chinese
Mr.  Li  became  the  Vice  President  of  the  Company  in  November  2014.  He  became  the  Chief 
Actuary of the Company in March 2012. Mr. Li joined the Company in 1996 and subsequently 
served  as  Deputy  Director,  Director,  Assistant  to  the  General  Manager  of  the  Product 
Development  Department,  Responsible  Actuary  of  the  Company  and  General  Manager  of  the 
Actuarial  Department.  He  graduated  from  Shanghai  Jiaotong  University  majoring  in  Computer 
Science with a Bachelor’s degree in 1991, Central University of Finance and Economics majoring 
in Monetary Banking (Actuarial Science) with a Master’s degree in 1996 and Tsinghua University 
with  an  EMBA  in  2010,  and  also  studied  in  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  United  States 
in  2011.  Mr.  Li  is  a  Fellow  of  the  China  Association  of  Actuaries  (FCAA)  and  a  Fellow  of  the 
Institute  and  Faculty  of  Actuaries  (FIA).  He  was  the  Chairman  of  the  first  session  of  the  China 
Actuarial Working Committee and the Secretary-general of both the first and the second sessions 
of  the  China  Association  of  Actuaries.  He  is  currently  an  Executive  Director  of  the  China 
Association  of  Actuaries  and  a  Special  Executive  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Insurance 
Institute of China.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Yang Zheng, born in 1970, Chinese
Mr. Yang became the Vice President of the Company in November 2014. He became the Chief 
Financial  Officer  of  the  Company  since  April  2013.  He  served  as  the  Qualified  Accountant 
of  the  Company  since  2006,  and  an  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  2009 
and  a  Director  of  Sino-Ocean  Land  Holdings  Limited  since  2011,  and  a  Director  of  China  Life 
Franklin  Asset  Management  Co.,  Limited  since  2014.  From  2000  to  2005,  Mr.  Yang  was  the 
Senior  Financial  Analyst  of  MOLEX  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Yang  graduated  from  Beijing 
University  of  Technology  in  1993  with  a  Bachelor’s  degree  in  Engineering.  He  obtained  a 
MBA  from  Northeastern  University  in  the  United  States  in  2000.  Mr.  Yang  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants  (AICPA)  and  the  Association  of  Chartered 
Certified  Accountants  (ACCA).  He  is  currently  a  member  of  the  eighth  session  of  the  Board  of 
the  Accounting  Society  of  China,  a  member  of  the  National  Accounting  Informatization  and 
Standardization Technical Committee, the third session of China Insurance Solvency Regulatory 
Standard Committee and the China Accounting Standards Committee of the Ministry of Finance 
of the PRC, respectively.

Mr. Xiao Jianyou, born in 1968, Chinese
Mr.  Xiao  became  an  Assistant  to  the  President  of  the  Company  in  July  2015.  He  has  been  a 
Non-executive  Director  of  China  Life  Property  and  Casualty  Insurance  Company  Limited  since 
September 2015, and the General Manager of the Company’s Jiangsu Branch since January 2014. 
From  April  2013  to  January  2014,  he  was  the  Deputy  General  Manager  (responsible  for  daily 
operation)  of  the  Company’s  Jiangsu  Branch.  From  2006  to  2013,  he  held  various  positions  at 
the  Company,  including  the  Deputy  General  Manager,  Assistant  to  the  General  Manager  and 
Marketing  Director  of  Jiangsu  Branch  and  General  Manager  and  Deputy  General  Manager  of 
Taizhou  Branch  in  Jiangsu  Province.  Before  that,  Mr.  Xiao  held  various  other  positions  at  the 
Company’s  Jiangsu  Branch,  including  Deputy  Manager  of  the  Sales  Management  Department, 
Assistant  to  the  General  Manager,  Deputy  General  Manager  (responsible  for  daily  operation) 
and  General  Manager  of  the  Individual  Insurance  Department.  Mr.  Xiao,  a  Senior  Economist, 
graduated  from  Jiangxi  Traditional  Chinese  Medicine  College  in  1991  with  a  Bachelor’s  degree, 
and  received  double  Bachelor’s  degrees  in  Medicine  and  Law  from  Jiangxi  Traditional  Chinese 
Medicine College and Nanjing University, respectively.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

Mr. Zheng Yong, born in 1962, Chinese
Mr.  Zheng  became  the  Board  Secretary  of  the  Company  in  June  2013.  He  previously  held 
positions  as  the  Department  Head  of  the  Ministry  of  Justice  of  the  PRC,  a  practicing  lawyer 
of  Beijing  Longan  Law  Firm,  China  Legal  Service  Ltd.  (Hong  Kong)  and  Beijing  DeHeng 
Law  Offices,  the  Deputy  General  Manager  of  the  Department  of  Legal  Affairs,  the  Company 
Secretary,  and  the  General  Manager  of  the  Legal  and  Compliance  Department  of  the  Company, 
and  an  Executive  Director  and  Vice  President  of  China  Guangfa  Bank  Co.,  Ltd.  Mr.  Zheng 
received his LL.B. degree from Peking University, and LL.M. degrees from the China University 
of  Political  Science  and  Law  and  University  of  Essex  (UK).  Mr.  Zheng  was  a  visiting  researcher 
at  Harvard  Law  School  and  Harvard  Kennedy  School  of  Government  in  the  United  States  from 
August 1996 to October 1997. Mr. Zheng is a Senior Economist.

COMPANY SECRETARY

Mr. Heng Victor Ja Wei, born in 1977, British
Mr.  Heng  is  the  managing  partner  of  Morison  Heng,  Certified  Public  Accountants.  Mr.  Heng 
holds  a  Master  of  Science  degree  of  the  Imperial  College  of  Science,  Technology  and  Medicine, 
the University of London. Mr. Heng is a member of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public 
Accountants  and  a  fellow  of  The  Association  of  Chartered  Certified  Accountants.  Mr.  Heng  has 
over  10  years  of  experience  in  accounting  and  auditing  for  private  and  public  companies  and 
financial consultancy. Mr. Heng serves as an Independent Non-executive Director of China Fire 
Safety  Enterprise  Group  Limited,  Lee  &  Man  Chemical  Company  Limited,  Matrix  Holdings 
Limited and Lee & Man Handbags Holding Limited, all of which are listed on the main board of 
the HKSE.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

II  POSITIONS  HELD  BY  CURRENT  DIRECTORS,  SUPERVISORS  AND  SENIOR 

MANAGEMENT IN SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY

Name
Yang Mingsheng

Name of shareholders
China Life Insurance (Group) Company

Position
Chairman

Term
Since March 2012

Miao Jianmin

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

Vice Chairman, President

Since October 2013

Zhang Xiangxian

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

Vice President

Since August 2008

Wang Sidong

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

Vice President

Since June 2004

Liu Jiade

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

Vice President

Since August 2014

Xiong Junhong

China Life Insurance (Group) Company

Deputy General Manager 
  of Strategic Planning 
  Department

Since June 2013

III  EMPLOYEES

1.  Employees

Number of employees of the Company 
Number of employees of the Company’s major subsidiaries 
Employees in total 
Retired employees of the Company and its major subsidiaries for which extra costs have to be incurred 

97,607
1,216
98,823
6

As  at  the  end  of  the  Reporting  Period,  the  composition  of  the  employees  of  the  Company  and  its  major 
subsidiaries is as follows:

(1) 

Structure of 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 

Total 

Number of Employees

23,941
33,036
5,373
29,330
2,674
4,469

98,823

71

 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees

(2)  Education Level

Education Level 

Master or above 
Bachelor 
College Diploma 
Secondary School 
Others 

Total 

Number of Employees

3,480
52,264
34,918
2,921
5,240

98,823

2.  Remuneration Policy

The  Company  has  established  a  remuneration  and  incentive  system  with  reference  to  employee’s  positions, 
the Company’s performance and market conditions.

3.  Training Plans

Adhering to the philosophy of “people-oriented and both capability and integrity being equally important”, 
the  Company  has  been  promoting  the  unity  between  the  growth  of  the  Company  and  its  employees  in  a 
harmonious way. In 2015, the Company pushed forward employees’ training to local branches and frontline 
business management teams for further in-depth development under the direction of its “innovation-driven 
growth”  strategy.  With  the  aim  of  transforming  training  results  into  operating  performance,  the  annual 
training plan is designed to strengthen training support for key personnel of the Company, including local 
management teams, sales management teams and key personnels in all professional sectors, increase training 
resources  for  companies  in  key  cities  and  working  units  with  faster  business  development,  and  focus  on 
the  training  of  the  pool  of  talents  of  companies  at  all  levels,  thus  increasing  the  value  of  training  for  the 
purposes of improving operating performance and achieving business targets. The Company’s education and 
training  departments  at  all  levels  actively  broadened  their  horizon  for  training  and  offered  innovative  ways 
of  training,  which  improved  the  training  resources  protection  system  for  the  entire  career  development  of 
employees.  Through  the  implementation  of  a  series  of  training  programs  with  prominent  themes  and  clear 
objectives, the education and training departments effectively promoted the relevant work of the Company 
in  business  development,  team  building,  culture  cultivation,  service  improvement,  efficiency  optimization 
and risk prevention in 2015.

72

 
 
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Corporate Governance

OVERVIEW OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The  Company  implements  good  corporate  governance  policies  and  strongly  believes  that  through  fostering  sound 
corporate  governance,  further  enhancing  its  transparency  and  establishing  effective  system  of  accountability,  the 
Company can operate in a more systematic manner, make decisions in a more scientific way, and boost the confidence of 
investors.

Shareholders’ 
General Meeting

Board of Directors

Supervisory 
Committee

Audit Committee

Nomination and 
Remuneration 
Committee

Risk 
Management 
Committee

Strategy and 
Investment 
Decision Committee

(Corporate Governance Structure Chart)

Board Secretary
Board Secretariat/Company Secretary

With the establishment of a corporate governance system with reasonably designed structure, well-developed mechanism, 
strict  rules  and  regulations,  as  well  as  high  efficiency  in  operation  as  its  core  objectives,  the  Company  continues  to 
promote  development  of  its  corporate  governance  framework,  strictly  perform  its  obligation  of  information  disclosure, 
enhance its transparency and actively serve the interest of public investors so as to enhance its image and position in the 
capital market.

1. 

2. 

The  Company  has  set  up  a  corporate  governance  structure  with  well-defined  duties  and  responsibilities  strictly 
in  accordance  with  relevant  laws,  regulations  and  regulatory  requirements,  including  the  Company  Law  and  the 
Securities  Law  of  the  PRC.  The  corporate  governance  structure  of  the  Company  generally  meets  the  regulatory 
requirements  of  its  listed  jurisdictions  and  the  relevant  provisions.  The  Company  has  carried  out  its  corporate 
governance  procedures  strictly  in  accordance  with  relevant  laws,  regulations  and  regulatory  requirements, 
including  the  Company  Law  and  the  Securities  Law  of  the  PRC,  as  well  as  the  requirements  of  its  Articles  of 
Association  and  procedural  rules.  Shareholders’  general  meetings,  Board  meetings  and  Supervisory  Committee 
meetings of the Company have been functioning independently and in a coordinated manner.

In accordance with the regulatory requirements of its listed jurisdictions and the relevant provisions of its Articles 
of Association, the Company has continuously improved the decision-making mechanism of the Board. The Board 
is accountable to the shareholders of the Company with respect to the assets and resources entrusted to it by the 
shareholders, and performs its duties on corporate governance. All members of the Board have taken initiatives to 
look into the Company’s affairs and have had a comprehensive understanding of the Company’s businesses. They 
have  devoted  sufficient  time  in  performing  their  duties  as  Directors  with  due  care  and  in  a  diligent  and  efficient 
manner.  By  setting  up  mechanisms  including  regular  reporting  of  business  development  strategy  and  marketing 
tactics,  the  management  of  the  Company  can  periodically  report  the  business  operation,  development  strategies 
and marketing tactics to the Board, which provides a basis for the Board’s decision-making.

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Corporate Governance

3. 

4. 

The  Company  has  actively  promoted  the  establishment  of  corporate  governance,  continuously  improved  its 
corporate  governance  structure  and  enhanced  its  scientific  decision-making  ability.  In  order  to  improve  the 
decision-making  efficiency  of  the  specialized  Board  committees,  the  Board  has  established  four  specialized  Board 
committees,  i.e.  the  Audit  Committee,  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee,  the  Risk  Management 
Committee,  and  the  Strategy  and  Investment  Decision  Committee.  These  specialized  Board  committees  conduct 
studies on specific matters, hold meetings on both regular and ad-hoc basis, communicate with the management, 
provide advice and recommendations for the Board’s consideration, and deal with matters entrusted or authorized 
by the Board, for the purpose of improving the Board’s efficiency and intensifying the Board’s functions.

The  Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company  has  carried  out  its  work  and  performed  its  duties  in  accordance 
with  the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Supervisory  Committee  Meetings”.  Members 
of  the  Supervisory  Committee  attended  the  shareholders’  general  meetings  and  the  Supervisory  Committee 
meetings,  participated  in  the  Board  meetings  and  the  meetings  of  the  specialized  Board  committees  based  on 
their  work  allocation,  and  conducted  investigations  on  local  branches  to  have  an  in-depth  understanding  of  the 
implementation of the decisions made by the Board, so as to diligently perform their role of supervision.

5.  During the Reporting period, the Company successfully completed the change of members of the new sessions of 
the Board and the Supervisory Committee, as well as the procedures relating to the resignation and appointment 
of  Directors  and  Supervisors  in  compliance  with  the  regulatory  requirements  of  its  listed  jurisdictions  and 
the  provisions  of  its  Articles  of  Association.  In  the  course  of  this  process,  the  Company  strictly  carried  out  all 
procedures and elected all members of the fifth sessions of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee 
at  the  shareholders’  general  meeting  and  employee  representative  meeting  through  widespread  solicitation  of 
opinions, stringent selections and sufficient deliberation.

6. 

7. 

8. 

The  Company  has  made  information  disclosure  in  a  timely,  open  and  transparent  manner  pursuant  to  the 
requirements  of  the  listing  rules  of  its  listed  jurisdictions.  The  Company  has  continuously  improved  its 
management  of  investor  relations  and  enhanced  its  communication  with  investors  in  both  form  and  substance, 
thus  ensuring  that  all  shareholders  enjoy  equal  rights  and  have  access  to  information  about  the  Company  in  an 
open, fair, true and accurate manner.

The Company has continued to optimize its system relevant to the corporate governance. In accordance with the 
latest  amendments  to  the  Corporate  Governance  Code  as  contained  in  Appendix  14  to  the  Listing  Rules  of  the 
HKSE,  as  well  as  the  requirements  of  the  CIRC  with  respect  to  the  risk  assessment  on  C-ROSS,  the  Company 
revised  its  Articles  of  Association,  the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Board  of  Directors  Meetings”  and  the  “Procedural 
Rules for Risk Management Committee Meetings” with reference to its actual operation. The major amendments 
included  the  change  of  business  scope  of  the  Company,  the  increase  of  duties  of  the  Board  with  respect  to  the 
systems  of  risk  management  and  internal  control,  as  well  as  the  increase  of  duties  of  the  Risk  Management 
Committee with respect to the risk management of solvency, etc.

The Board of the Company conducted extensive investigation and research activities. Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh, 
Mr.  Chang  Tso  Tung  Stephen  and  Mr.  Robinson  Drake  Pike,  all  of  whom  were  Independent  Directors,  carried 
out  investigation  and  research  on  local  branches  of  the  Company  in  Xilin  Gol  and  Chifeng  for  the  purpose  of 
understanding  the  business  development,  and  the  risk  prevention  and  control  of  the  local  branches.  Through 
investigation and research, all Directors comprehended the working situation of local branches in great depth and 
examined  the  effectiveness  of  the  Board  in  implementing  its  decisions,  thus  enhancing  the  legal  compliance  and 
risk prevention of the Company in an efficient and practical manner.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Corporate Governance

9. 

The Company actively organized Directors and Supervisors to attend various training courses. In 2015, Directors 
and Supervisors of the Company attended a training course on the PRC insurance market of 2014 and a training 
course on the “Analysis of China Risk Oriented Solvency System” pursuant to the regulatory requirements. They 
also attended training courses relating to anti-money laundering pursuant to the regulatory requirements so as to 
understand the latest anti-money laundering rules and regulations and the working situation of the Company on 
anti-money laundering, and to enhance the capability of Directors and Supervisors to prevent against any risks of 
money laundering.

SHAREHOLDERS’ GENERAL MEETING
The  shareholders’  general  meeting,  as  an  organ  of  the  highest  authority  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  Non  Employee  Representative  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  are  equally  treated  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.

1. 

Shareholders’ general meetings convened during the Reporting Period are as follows:

Session of the meeting 

Date of the meeting 

Index for websites on which  
resolutions were published 

Date of publication 
of resolutions

2014 Annual General Meeting 

28 May 2015 

First Extraordinary General  
  Meeting 2015 

29 December 2015 

http://www.sse.com.cn 
http://www.hkexnews.hk
http://www.e-chinalife.com
http://www.sse.com.cn 
http://www.hkexnews.hk
http://www.e-chinalife.com

29 May 2015

30 December 2015

24  proposals  including:  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Report  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  for 
the  Year  2014”,  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Report  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company  for  the 
Year 2014”, the “Proposal in relation to the Financial Report of the Company for the Year 2014”, the “Proposal 
in  relation  to  the  Profit  Distribution  Plan  of  the  Company  for  the  Year  2014”,  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the 
Remuneration  of  Directors  and  Supervisors  of  the  Company”,  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Remuneration  of 
Auditors of the Company for the Year 2014 and the Appointment of Auditors of the Company for the Year 2015”, 
the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Election  of  Mr.  Yang  Mingsheng  as  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Fifth  Session 
of the Board of Directors of the Company”, the “Proposal in relation to the Election of Mr. Miao Ping as a Non 
Employee  Representative  Supervisor  of  the  Fifth  Session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  of  the  Company”,  and 
the “Proposal in relation to the Overseas Issue by the Company of RMB Debt Instruments for Replenishment of 
Capital”,  etc.  were  considered  and  approved  by  way  of  on-site  and  online  voting,  and  the  “Duty  Report  of  the 
Independent  Directors  of  the  Fourth  Session  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  for  the  Year  2014”  and 
the “Report on the Status of Connected Transactions and the Execution of Connected Transactions Management 
System of the Company for the Year 2014” were received and reviewed at the 2014 Annual General Meeting held 
in Beijing on 28 May 2015.

75

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Corporate Governance

Six  proposals  including:  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Election  of  Mr.  Tang  Xin  as  an  Independent  Director 
of  the  Fifth  Session  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company”,  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Appointment 
of  Auditors  of  the  Company  for  the  Year  2016”,  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Entrusted  Investment  and 
Management  Agreement  for  Alternative  Investments  with  Insurance  Funds  between  the  Company  and  China 
Life  Investment  Holding  Company  Limited”,  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Capital  Debt  Financing  of  the 
Company”,  and  the  “Proposal  in  relation  to  the  Overseas  Issue  of  Senior  Bonds  by  the  Company”,  etc.  were 
considered  and  approved  by  way  of  on-site  and  online  voting  at  the  First  Extraordinary  General  Meeting  2015 
held in Beijing on 29 December 2015.

2. 

Attendance records of Directors at the shareholders’ general meetings convened during the Reporting Period:

Number of 
shareholders’ 

Name of Director 

Type of Director 

Yang Mingsheng 
Lin Dairen 
Xu Hengping 
Xu Haifeng 
Miao Jianmin 
Zhang Xiangxian 
Wang Sidong 
Liu Jiade 
Anthony Francis Neoh 
Chang Tso Tung  
  Stephen
Huang Yiping 
Robinson Drake Pike 

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

Independent Director 
Independent Director 

general meetings   Number of   Number of   Number of 
the Director was  
required to attend  
during the year 

meetings  
meetings  
physically   attended by  
telephony 
attended 

meetings   Number of 
attended  
by proxies 

meetings   Attendance 
rate

absent 

2 
2 
1 
1 
2 
2 
2 
1 
2 
2 

2 
1 

2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
0 
1 
1 
2 
1 

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 
0 

0 
1 
0 
0 
1 
2 
1 
0 
0 
1 

2 
1 

100%
50%
100%
100%
50%
0
50%
100%
100%
50%

0
0

Note:  Mr.  Su  Hengxuan  resigned  as  Director  on  8  May  2015  due  to  adjustment  of  working  arrangements,  whereas  Mr.  Miao 
Ping and Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore retired from their position as Director on 28 May 2015 due to the change of session 

of the Board. The above Directors did not attend any shareholders’ general meeting of the Company during the Reporting 

Period.

76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Corporate Governance

BOARD
The Board is the standing decision-making body of the Company and its main duties include: performing the function 
of  corporate  governance  of  the  Company,  convening  shareholders’  general  meetings,  implementing  resolutions  passed 
at  such  meetings,  improving  the  Company’s  corporate  governance  policies,  approving  the  Company’s  development 
strategies  and  operation  plans,  formulating  and  supervising  the  Company’s  financial  policies,  annual  budgets  and 
financial  reports,  providing  an  objective  evaluation  on  the  Company’s  operating  results  in  its  financial  reports  and 
other  disclosure  documents,  dealing  with  senior  management  personnel  matters,  arranging  for  Directors  and  senior 
management  to  attend  various  training  courses,  attaching  importance  to  the  enhancement  of  their  professional  quality, 
reviewing  the  compliance  policies  of  the  Company,  and  assessing  the  internal  control  systems  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,  regularly  attending  meetings  of  the  Board 
and  the  specialized  Board  committees  of  which  they  are  members,  providing  opinions  at  meetings  of  the  Board  and 
the  specialized  Board  committees,  resolving  any  potential  conflict  of  interest,  serving  on  the  Audit  Committee,  the 
Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  and  other  specialized  Board  committees,  and  inspecting,  supervising  and 
reporting  on  the  performance  of  the  Company.  The  Board  is  accountable  to  the  shareholders  of  the  Company  and 
reports to them.

Currently,  the  Board  comprises  12  members,  including  four  Executive  Directors,  four  Non-executive  Directors  and 
four  Independent  Directors.  The  number  of  Independent  Directors  complies  with  the  minimum  requirement  of  three 
Independent Directors and the requirement that at least one-third of the Board be represented by Independent Directors 
under the Listing Rules of the HKSE. All members of the Board have devoted sufficient time in dealing with the affairs 
of  the  Board  and  attended  the  relevant  training  courses  organized  by  external  regulatory  authorities  and  the  Company 
according  to  regulatory  requirements.  They  have  referred  to  regulatory  documents  on  a  regular  basis  so  as  to  keep 
themselves informed of the regulatory development in a timely manner. The Company has purchased director’s liability 
insurances  for  its  Directors,  which  provide  protection  to  Directors  for  liabilities  that  might  arise  in  the  course  of  their 
performance  of  duties  according  to  law  and  facilitate  Directors  to  fully  perform  their  duties.  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 members, including between the Chairman, Mr. Yang Mingsheng and the 
President, Mr. Lin Dairen.

In  2015,  Independent  Directors  of  the  Company  possessed  extensive  experience  in  various  fields,  such  as  macro-
economics,  finance  and  insurance,  legal  compliance,  accounting  and  auditing.  The  Company  also  complies  with  the 
requirement of the Listing Rules of the HKSE 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 
of the SSE and the HKSE, 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  and  strictly  perform  their  duties  as  Independent  Directors.  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. However, Independent Directors may not serve for more than six years.

77

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Corporate Governance

Meetings of the Board are held both on a regular and an ad-hoc basis. Regular meetings are convened at least four times 
a  year  for  the  examination  and  approval  of  proposals,  such  as  annual  report,  interim  report,  quarterly  reports,  related 
financial  reports,  and  major  business  operations  of  the  year.  Meetings  are  convened  by  the  Chairman  and  a  notice  is 
given  to  all  Directors  14  days  before  such  meetings.  Agendas  and  related  documents  are  sent  to  the  Directors  at  least 
three days prior to such meetings. In 2015, all notices, agendas and related documents in respect of such regular Board 
meetings were sent in compliance with the above requirements. By fully reviewing all the relevant proposals, the Board 
has confirmed that the information contained in its periodic reports and financial reports is true, accurate and complete 
and  contains  no  false  representations,  misleading  statements  or  material  omissions,  and  no  event  or  situation  which 
would have material adverse impacts on the Company’s ongoing operation has been found. 

Regular Board meetings are held mainly to review the quarterly, interim or 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 two 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 approve 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 right 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  Board  Secretary  and  the  Company  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 comment by any Director.

At present, the fifth session of the Board comprises the following members: Mr. Yang Mingsheng, Mr. Lin Dairen, Mr. 
Xu Hengping and Mr. Xu Haifeng, all being Executive Directors, Mr. Miao Jianmin, Mr. Zhang Xiangxian, Mr. Wang 
Sidong  and  Mr.  Liu  Jiade,  all  being  Non-executive  Directors,  and  Mr.  Anthony  Francis  Neoh,  Mr.  Chang  Tso  Tung 
Stephen,  Mr.  Robinson  Drake  Pike  and  Mr.  Tang  Xin,  all  being  Independent  Directors,  with  Mr.  Yang  Mingsheng  as 
the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Miao Ping and Mr. Bruce Douglas Moore retired from their position as Director due 
to the expiry of the term of the fourth session of the Board, Mr. Su Hengxuan resigned as Director due to adjustment of 
working arrangements, and Mr. Huang Yiping resigned as Director pursuant to the relevant policies.

The Company has continued to optimize its system relevant to the corporate governance. In accordance with the latest 
amendments to the Corporate Governance Code as contained in Appendix 14 to the Listing Rules of the HKSE, as well 
as  the  requirements  of  the  CIRC  with  respect  to  the  risk  assessment  on  C-ROSS,  the  Company  revised  its  Articles  of 
Association,  the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Board  of  Directors  Meetings”  and  the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Risk  Management 
Committee  Meetings”  in  2015  with  reference  to  its  actual  operation.  The  major  amendments  included  the  change  of 
business  scope  of  the  Company,  the  increase  of  duties  of  the  Board  with  respect  to  the  systems  of  risk  management 
and  internal  control,  as  well  as  the  increase  of  duties  of  the  Risk  Management  Committee  with  respect  to  the  risk 
management of solvency, etc.

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During  2015,  members  of  the  Board  of  the  Company  attended  a  training  course  on  the  PRC  insurance  market  of 
2014, which gave them a general review and analysis of the overall situation of the PRC insurance market of 2014 from 
various  aspects,  including  insurance  regulation,  industry  development  and  horizontal  competition.  According  to  the 
requirements  of  the  CIRC,  members  of  the  Board  attended  a  training  course  on  the  “Analysis  of  China  Risk  Oriented 
Solvency  System”,  to  enhance  their  capability  of  risk  management  on  the  Company’s  solvency  and  the  level  of  public 
disclosure  of  the  Company’s  solvency  to  external  parties.  Directors  also  attended  training  courses  relating  to  anti-
money  laundering  pursuant  to  the  regulatory  requirements  so  as  to  understand  the  latest  anti-money  laundering  rules 
and regulations and the working situation of the Company on anti-money laundering, and to enhance the capability of 
Directors to prevent against any risks of money laundering.

1.  Meetings and attendance

In  2015,  2  regular  Board  meetings  were  held  by  the  fourth  session  of  the  Board,  both  of  which  were  physical 
meetings. The attendance records of individual Directors are as follows:

Number of  
meetings the  
Director was  
required to  
attend during  
the year 

Number of  
meetings  
physically  
attended 

Number of  
meetings  
attended by  
telephony 

Number of  
meetings  
attended by  
proxies 

Number of  
meetings  
absent 

  Whether the 
  Director failed 
to attend two 
consecutive 
meetings 
in person

Attendance  
rate 

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 

1 
2 
1 
2 
1 
2 
1 
2 
2 
2 
2 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

1 Note 1 
0 
1 Note 2 
0 
1 Note 3 
0 
1 Note 4 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

50% 
100% 
50% 
100% 
50% 
100% 
50% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No

Name of Director 

Type of Director 

Yang Mingsheng 
Lin Dairen 
Su Hengxuan 
Miao Ping 
Miao Jianmin 
Zhang Xiangxian 
Wang Sidong 
Bruce Douglas Moore 
Anthony Francis Neoh 
Chang Tso Tung Stephen 
Huang Yiping 

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 

Notes:

1. 

At the twentieth meeting of the fourth session of the Board held on 28 April 2015, Mr. Yang Mingsheng, the Chairman, 

gave written authorization for Mr. Lin Dairen to act as his proxy to attend, vote and chair the meeting;

2. 

At  the  twentieth  meeting  of  the  fourth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  28  April  2015,  Mr.  Su  Hengxuan  gave  written 

authorization for Mr. Miao Ping to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

3. 

At  the  nineteenth  meeting  of  the  fourth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  10  March  2015,  Mr.  Miao  Jianmin  gave  written 

authorization for Mr. Zhang Xiangxian to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

4. 

At  the  twentieth  meeting  of  the  fourth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  28  April  2015,  Mr.  Wang  Sidong  gave  written 

authorization for Mr. Zhang Xiangxian to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

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Corporate Governance

In 2015, 4 regular Board meetings were held by the fifth session of the Board, of which 3 were physical meetings 
and  1  was  combined  physical  and  telephony  meeting.  The  attendance  records  of  individual  Directors  are  as 
follows:

Number of  
meetings the  
Director was  
required to  
attend during  
the year 

Number of  
meetings  
physically  
attended 

Number of  
meetings  
attended by  
telephony 

Number of  
meetings  
attended by  
proxies 

Number of  
meetings  
absent 

  Whether the 
  Director failed 
to attend two 
consecutive 
meetings 
in person

Attendance  
rate 

4 
4 
3 
3 
4 
4 
4 
3 
4 
4 
4 
3 

3 
4 
3 
3 
2 
2 
3 
2 
4 
4 
2 
3 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 Note 6 
0 

1 Note 1 
0 
0 
0 
2 Note 2 
2 Note 3 
1 Note 4 
1 Note 5 
0 
0 
1 Note 7 
0 

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

75% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
50% 
50% 
75% 
67% 
100% 
100% 
75% 
100% 

No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No

Name of Director 

Type of Director 

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

Yang Mingsheng 
Lin Dairen 
Xu Hengping 
Xu Haifeng 
Miao Jianmin 
Zhang Xiangxian 
Wang Sidong 
Liu Jiade 
Anthony Francis Neoh 
Chang Tso Tung Stephen 
Huang Yiping 
Robinson Drake Pike 

Notes:

1. 

At the third meeting of the fifth session of the Board held on 28 October 2015, Mr. Yang Mingsheng, the Chairman, gave 

written authorization for Mr. Lin Dairen to act as his proxy to attend, vote and chair the meeting;

2. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  26  August  2015,  Mr.  Miao  Jianmin  gave  written 

authorization  for  Mr.  Liu  Jiade  to  act  as  his  proxy  to  attend  and  vote  at  the  meeting;  at  the  third  meeting  of  the  fifth 

session of the Board held on 28 October 2015, Mr. Miao Jianmin gave written authorization for Mr. Zhang Xiangxian to 

act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

3. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  28  May  2015,  Mr.  Zhang  Xiangxian  gave  written 

authorization  for  Mr.  Wang  Sidong  to  act  as  his  proxy  to  attend  and  vote  at  the  meeting;  at  the  second  meeting  of  the 

fifth session of the Board held on 26 August 2015, Mr. Zhang Xiangxian gave written authorization for Mr. Wang Sidong 

to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

4. 

At  the  fourth  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  22  December  2015,  Mr.  Wang  Sidong  gave  written 

authorization for Mr. Miao Jianmin to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

5. 

At  the  fourth  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  22  December  2015,  Mr.  Liu  Jiade  gave  written 

authorization for Mr. Zhang Xiangxian to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

6. 

At the first meeting of the fifth session of the Board held on 28 May 2015, Mr. Huang Yiping attended the meeting by 

way of telephony;

7. 

At  the  fourth  meeting  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  22  December  2015,  Mr.  Huang  Yiping  gave  written 

authorization for Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

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2.  Performance of duties by Independent Directors

In  2015,  all  Independent  Directors  of  the  Company  possessed  extensive  experience  in  various  fields,  such  as 
macro-economics,  finance  and  insurance,  legal  compliance,  accounting  and  auditing.  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.

All  Independent  Directors  diligently  fulfilled  their  responsibilities  and  faithfully  performed  their  duties  by 
attending  meetings  of  the  Board  and  the  specialized  Board  committees  in  2015,  examining  and  approving 
the  Company’s  business  development,  financial  management  and  connected  transactions,  participating  in  the 
establishment  of  specialized  Board  committees,  providing  professional  and  constructive  advice  in  respect  of 
major  decisions  of  the  Company,  seriously  listening  to  the  reports  from  the  relevant  personnel,  understanding 
the  daily  operation  and  any  possible  operational  risks  of  the  Company  in  a  timely  manner,  and  expressing  their 
opinions  and  exercising  their  functions  and  powers  at  Board  meetings,  thus  actively  performing  their  duties  as 
Independent Directors in an effective manner. At the annual special meeting among the Chairman, Non-executive 
Directors  and  Independent  Directors,  all  Independent  Directors  made  recommendations  in  various  aspects,  such 
as the development of the global capital market, return on investment and balance of risks, and gave constructive 
advice  on  corporate  governance,  team  building  and  marketing  method.  The  Board  attached  great  importance  to 
opinions and advice from Independent Directors, actively strengthened its communication with them and adopted 
their  advice  after  careful  deliberation  and  discussion.  In  2015,  the  Company  provided  various  materials  to  the 
Independent Directors, which facilitated them to comprehend information associated with the insurance industry. 
All  Independent  Directors  obtained  information  relating  to  the  operation  and  management  of  the  Company 
through various channels, which therefore formed the basis of their scientific and prudent decisions.

In 2015, the Independent Directors of the Company and the representatives from the external auditors (Ernst & 
Young  Hua  Ming  LLP  and  Ernst  &  Young)  convened  a  special  meeting  to  discuss  various  matters  including  the 
audit for the year 2014, the annual financial reports, and the impact of the implementation of the C-ROSS on the 
Company, and also discussed the work relating to the audit of the Company.

From 19 to 24 August 2015, Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh, Mr. Chang Tso Tung Stephen and Mr. Robinson Drake 
Pike,  all  of  whom  were  Independent  Directors,  carried  out  investigation  and  research  on  local  branches  of  the 
Company in Xilin Gol and Chifeng, listened to the work reports of local branches in Inner Mongolia, Xilin Gol 
and Chifeng, held in-depth conferences with their respective key management, conducted an on-site investigation 
and  research  on  counters  of  the  business  department  of  Chifeng  local  branch  for  the  purpose  of  understanding 
the  business  development,  and  the  risk  prevention  and  control  of  the  local  branches.  Through  investigation  and 
research,  all  Directors  comprehended  the  working  situation  of  local  branches  in  great  depth  and  examined  the 
effectiveness of the Board in implementing its decisions, thus enhancing the legal compliance and risk prevention 
of the Company in a practical manner.

During the Reporting Period, no Independent Director has raised any objection against the proposals and matters 
considered by the Board of the Company.

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CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT
During the Reporting Period, Mr. Yang Mingsheng served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors 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 Chairmen of Board committees to answer questions raised by shareholders, signing securities issued by the 
Company and other important documents, providing leadership for the Board to ensure that the Board works effectively 
and performs its responsibilities, encouraging all Directors to make a full and active contribution to the Board’s affairs, 
promoting a culture of openness and debate, convening special meetings with Non-executive Directors and Independent 
Directors, and exercising other rights conferred on him by the Board. The Chairman is accountable to and reports to the 
Board.  Mr.  Lin  Dairen  was  the  President  of  the  Company.  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  management  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 accountable to the Board for the operations of the Company.

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
Pursuant to the Company Law and the Articles of Association, the Company has established a Supervisory Committee. 
The  Supervisory  Committee  performs  the  following  duties  in  accordance  with  the  Company  Law,  the  Articles  of 
Association and the “Procedural Rules for Supervisory Committee Meetings”: 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 
meetings  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  the  Board;  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 regulatory rules of the Company’s listed jurisdictions.

The  Supervisory  Committee  consists  of  Non  Employee  Representative  Supervisors,  such  as  shareholder  representatives, 
and Employee Representative Supervisors, of which the Employee Representative Supervisors shall not be less than one-
third of the Supervisory Committee. Non Employee Representative Supervisors, such as shareholder representatives, shall 
be  elected  and  removed  by  a  shareholders’  general  meeting  while  Employee  Representative  Supervisors  shall  be  elected 
and removed by employees of the Company in a democratic manner.

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. during the Reporting Period.

Meetings  of  the  Supervisory  Committee  are  convened  by  the  Chairman  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  three  regular  meetings 
each year, mainly to adopt and review financial reports and periodical reports, and examine the financial conditions and 
internal control of the Company. Ad-hoc meetings are convened when necessary.

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The fifth session of the Supervisory Committee of the Company comprises Mr. Miao Ping, Mr. Shi Xiangming and Ms. 
Xiong Junhong, all being Non Employee Representative Supervisors, and Mr. Zhan Zhong and Ms. Wang Cuifei, both 
being Employee Representative Supervisors, with Mr. Miao Ping acting as the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee. 
Ms. Xia Zhihua, Ms. Yang Cuilian and Mr. Li Xuejun retired from their position as Supervisor due to the expiry of the 
term of the fourth session of the Supervisory Committee.

1.  Meetings and attendance

In  2015,  2  meetings  were  held  by  the  fourth  session  of  the  Supervisory  Committee.  Attendance  records  of 
individual Supervisors are as follows:

Name of Supervisor 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Xia Zhihua 
Shi Xiangming 
Yang Cuilian 
Li Xuejun 
Xiong Junhong 

2/2 
2/2 
1/2 Note 
2/2 
2/2 

100%
100%
50%
100%
100%

Note:  At the seventeenth meeting of the fourth session of the Supervisory Committee held on 28 April 2015, Ms. Yang Cuiliain 

gave written authorization for Mr. Shi Xiangming to act as her proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

In 2015, 4 meetings were held by the fifth session of the Supervisory Committee. Attendance records of individual 
Supervisors are as follows:

Name of Supervisor 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Miao Ping 
Shi Xiangming 
Xiong Junhong 
Zhan Zhong 
Wang Cuifei 

Notes:

4/4 
3/4 Note 1 
4/4 
4/4 
3/4 Note 2 

100%
75%
100%
100%
75%

1. 

At the third meeting of the fifth session of the Supervisory Committee held on 28 October 2015, Mr. Shi Xiangming gave 

written authorization for Mr. Zhan Zhong to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

2. 

At the second meeting of the fifth session of the Supervisory Committee held on 26 August 2015, Ms. Wang Cuifei gave 

written authorization for Mr. Zhan Zhong to act as her proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

2.  The  Supervisory  Committee  had  no  objection  in  respect  of  any  matters  under  its  supervision 

during the Reporting Period.

3.  Activities of the Supervisory Committee during the Reporting Period

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

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AUDIT COMMITTEE
The  Company  established  its  Audit  Committee  on  30  June  2003.  In  2015,  the  Audit  Committee  comprised  only 
Independent  Directors  of  the  Company.  At  present,  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  comprises 
Mr.  Robinson  Drake  Pike,  Mr.  Chang  Tso  Tung  Stephen  and  Mr.  Tang  Xin,  with  Mr.  Robinson  Drake  Pike  acting 
as the Chairman. Mr. Bruce  Douglas Moore retired from his position as the  Chairman  of  the  Audit  Committee  of  the 
Company due to the expiry of the term of the Audit Committee of the fourth session of the Board. Mr. Huang Yiping 
resigned  from  his  position  as  a  member  of  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  of  the  Company 
pursuant to the relevant policies.

All  members  of  the  Audit  Committee  have  extensive  experience  in  financial  matters.  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  its  implementation, 
and  recommend  the  engagement  or  replacement  of  external  auditors.  The  Audit  Committee  is  also  responsible  for 
communications between the internal and external auditors and the establishment of the  internal  reporting  mechanism 
of the Company.

1.  Meetings and attendance

In  2015,  2  regular  meetings  were  held  by  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  fourth  session  of  the  Board.  Attendance 
records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Bruce Douglas Moore 

Chang Tso Tung Stephen 

Huang Yiping 

Independent Director, Chairman of the Audit  
Committee of the fourth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the Audit  
Committee of the fourth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the Audit  
Committee of the fourth session of the Board

2/2 

2/2 

2/2 

100%

100%

100%

In  2015,  3  regular  meetings  were  held  by  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board.  Attendance 
records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Robinson Drake Pike 

Chang Tso Tung Stephen 

Huang Yiping 

Independent Director, Chairman of the Audit  
Committee of the fifth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the Audit  
Committee of the fifth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the Audit  
Committee of the fifth session of the Board

3/3 

3/3 

2/3 Note 

100%

100%

67%

Note:  At  the  third  meeting  of  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  21  December  2015,  Mr.  Huang 

Yiping gave written authorization for Mr. Chang Tso Tung Stephen to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

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Corporate Governance

2.  Performance of duties by the Audit Committee

In  2015,  the  Audit  Committee  performed  its  relevant  duties  and  functions  in  strict  compliance  with  the 
“Procedural  Rules  for  Audit  Committee  Meetings”.  All  members  of  the  Audit  Committee  attended  meetings  in 
a timely manner for the purpose of reviewing the proposals in relation to the audit of the Company, its financial 
reports, connected transactions, internal control and legal compliance. During meetings of the Audit Committee, 
all  members  actively  participated  in  discussions  and  gave  guiding  opinions  on  any  proposals  considered  and 
discussed at the meetings.

(1)  Reviewing  and  approving  financial  reports.  The  Audit  Committee,  according  to  its  duties,  reviewed  and 
approved  annual,  interim  and  quarterly  financial  reports,  as  well  as  solvency  report  of  the  Company.  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.  By 
reviewing and monitoring the completeness of financial reports, annual report and accounts, interim report 
and  quarterly  reports  of  the  Company,  and  examining  significant  matters  such  as  financial  statements 
and  reports,  the  Audit  Committee  guaranteed  the  accuracy  and  completeness  of  the  financial  information 
disclosed  by  the  Company  and  the  consistency  of  its  financial  reports.  Prior  to  the  audit  conducted  by  the 
accounting  firm  and  the  review  of  the  annual  report,  the  Audit  Committee  communicated  the  relevant 
situations with the auditors and listened to the report in connection with the arrangement of the audit. After 
a  preliminary  opinion  on  audit  was  issued  by  the  accounting  firm,  the  Audit  Committee  commenced  in-
depth communications with it so as to understand whether there were any issues identified during the audit.

(2)  Reviewing connected transactions. In 2015, the Audit Committee reviewed the “Proposal on the Connected 
Transactions  under  the  Asset  Management  Agreement  for  Alternative  Investments  between  the  Company 
and  China  Life  Investment  Holding  Company  Limited”,  and  submitted  it  to  the  Board  and  shareholders’ 
general meeting for approval; and listened to the report on the list of connected parties of the Company on a 
regular basis. The Audit Committee reviewed the audit report on connected transactions for conscientiously 
implementation  of  laws  and  regulations  with  respect  to  connected  transactions.  The  Company  entered 
into  written  agreements  in  respect  of  all  new  connected  transactions,  the  formalities  of  which  were  fully 
completed. The contents of the agreements were in compliance with law, and their approval and disclosure 
procedures were in compliance with the regulatory requirements. Hence, the Company better performed its 
obligations as a listed company pursuant to the regulatory requirements of its listed jurisdictions.

(3) 

Supervising  and  assessing  the  work  of  and  strengthening  communications  with  external  auditors.  Besides 
regular  meetings,  the  Audit  Committee  convened  communication  meetings  in  advance  with  the  relevant 
departments  of  the  Company  and  external  auditors  for  several  times  so  as  to  discuss  the  annual  audit  plan 
of  the  Company,  determine  the  service  scope  of  the  annual  audit  and  to  listen  to  the  report  given  by  the 
auditors with respect to the results of the audit on and review of periodic financial reports of the Company. 
Through  communications,  the  Audit  Committee  enhanced  the  effectiveness  of  the  internal  control  of 
the  Company  and  further  supervised  the  performance  of  duties  by  the  external  auditors  in  a  diligent  and 
responsible way.

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(4)  Assessing  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  and  monitoring  the  operation  of  the  Company  to  be  in 
compliance  with  law.  The  Audit  Committee  provided  guidance  to  the  Company  on  the  management  of 
internal  control,  devised  the  working  plan  for  internal  control  assessment,  reviewed  the  work  report  on 
assessment of internal control, and inspected the rectification of problems identified in the internal control 
pursuant  to  Section  404  of  the  U.S.  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act.  The  Audit  Committee  earnestly  performed  its 
duties  and  responsibilities  and  monitored  the  Company  to  carry  out  the  work  in  compliance  with  laws 
and  regulations  pursuant  to  the  relevant  requirements  of  the  CIRC  and  the  SSE.  As  required  by  its  duties 
and  responsibilities,  the  Audit  Committee  reviewed  the  annual  and  half-year  compliance  reports  of  the 
Company to ensure that its work was conducted strictly according to the relevant regulatory requirements in 
a reasonable and efficient manner.

(5)  Examining  the  internal  audit  functions  of  the  Company.  The  Audit  Committee  reviewed  proposals 
including  the  “Proposal  on  the  2014  Internal  Audit  Summary  and  the  2015  Internal  Audit  Work  Plan 
and  Budget  of  the  Costs  of  the  Company”  and  the  “Proposal  on  the  Internal  Audit  Summary  for  the  First 
Half  of  2015  and  the  Internal  Audit  Work  Plan  for  the  Second  Half  of  2015”,  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
communication  between  the  Company’s  internal  audit  department  and  the  independent  auditors,  and 
confirmed that the Company’s internal audit function was effective.

(6)  Conducting investigation and research of local branches. From 19 to 24 August 2015, Mr. Robinson Drake 
Pike,  the  Chairman  of  the  Audit  Committee,  and  Mr.  Chang  Tso  Tung  Stephen,  a  member  of  the  Audit 
Committee,  carried  out  investigation  and  research  on  local  branches  of  the  Company  in  Xilin  Gol  and 
Chifeng,  and  gave  constructive  advice  on  the  differentiated  financial  policies  formulated  by  the  Company 
taking into account local conditions.

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, its number of 
members and composition and drawing up plans for the appointment, succession and appraisal criteria of Directors and 
senior management. The committee is also responsible for formulating training and remuneration policies for the senior 
management of the Company.

At  present,  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  comprises  Mr.  Chang  Tso 
Tung  Stephen  and  Mr.  Robinson  Drake  Pike,  the  Independent  Directors,  and  Mr.  Miao  Jianmin,  a  Non-executive 
Director,  with  Mr.  Chang  Tso  Tung  Stephen  acting  as  the  Chairman.  Mr.  Bruce  Douglas  Moore  retired  from  his 
position as a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee due to the expiry of the term of the Nomination 
and Remuneration Committee of the fourth session of the Board.

The  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee,  as  an  advisor  to  the  Board  on  the  nomination  of  Directors,  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 give special consideration to the independence of the relevant candidates.

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The Nomination and Remuneration Committee determines, with delegated responsibility, the remuneration packages of 
all Executive Directors and senior management officers. 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.

1.  Meetings and attendance

In 2015, 2 regular meetings were held by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the fourth session of 
the Board. Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Chang Tso Tung Stephen 

Bruce Douglas Moore 

Miao Jianmin 

Independent Director, Chairman of the  
Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
of the fourth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the  
Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
of the fourth session of the Board
Non-executive Director, member of the  
Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
of the fourth session of the Board

2/2 

2/2 

2/2 

100%

100%

100%

In 2015, 2 regular meetings were held by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the fifth session of the 
Board. Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Chang Tso Tung Stephen 

Robinson Drake Pike 

Miao Jianmin 

Independent Director, Chairman of the  
Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
of the fifth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the  
Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
of the fifth session of the Board
Non-executive Director, member of the  
Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
of the fifth session of the Board

2/2 

1/1 

100%

100%

1/2 Note 

50%

Note:  At  the  second  meeting  of  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  26 
August 2015, Mr. Miao Jianmin gave written authorization for Mr. Chang Tso Tung Stephen to act as his proxy to attend 

and vote at the meeting.

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2.  Performance of duties by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee

In 2015, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee reviewed the proposal on the remuneration of Directors, 
Supervisors and senior management officers, candidates for Directors, nomination of senior management officers, 
business  objectives  and  appraisal  results.  Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  procedural  rules  for  meetings,  the 
Nomination and Remuneration Committee reviewed the report on the duty performance of the Audit Committee 
and  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee.  During  meetings  of  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration 
Committee,  all  members  actively  participated  in  discussions  and  gave  professional  opinions  on  the  proposals 
considered and discussed at the meetings.

(1)  Proposed  appointment  of  Directors  and  senior  management  officers  of  the  Company.  In  accordance  with 
the  “Procedural  Rules  for  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  Meetings”  and  the  “Board  Diversity 
Policy”,  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  carefully  reviewed  the  structure  of  the  Board, 
its  number  of  members  and  composition  (taking  into  account  diversity  factors,  including  gender,  age, 
cultural and educational background, skills, knowledge and experience), selected and recommended a list of 
candidates  for  members  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board,  fully  reviewed  the  professional  qualifications  and 
industrial background of the Director candidates and the members of the specialized Board committees, and 
the  independence  of  the  Independent  Directors,  etc.  and  submitted  the  opinions  in  relation  thereto  to  the 
Board, conducted a careful assessment on the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience of candidates 
for senior management officers so as to ensure that the candidates met the requirements set by the Company. 
The  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  also  issued  a  review  opinion  to  the  Board  and  agreed  to 
submit such proposals to the Board for approval.

(2)  Proposed  remuneration  policy  of  Directors,  Supervisors  and  senior  management  officers  of  the  Company. 
The  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee  took  into  account  various  factors  such  as  business 
development  management,  strategic  investment  decisions,  and  corporate  governance  management  and 
control,  carefully  examined  and  determined  the  specific  remuneration  packages  of  all  Executive  Directors 
and  senior  management  officers,  approved  the  terms  of  service  contracts  between  the  Company  and  each 
of  the  Executive  Directors,  Non-executive  Directors  and  Independent  Directors  and  pushed  forward  the 
signing  of  service  contracts  between  the  Company  and  all  Directors,  defined  the  rights,  obligations  and 
remunerations  of  Directors,  and  seriously  appraised  the  performance  of  Directors  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duties.  According  to  the  requirements  of  the  CIRC,  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration  Committee 
reviewed  and  approved  the  report  for  the  management  of  the  Company’s  annual  remuneration,  conducted 
a  self-assessment  on  the  remuneration  management  system  of  the  Company  and  agreed  to  submit  such 
proposal to the Board for approval.

(3)  Carrying out the performance appraisal of senior management officers. The Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee  reviewed  the  results  of  performance  appraisal  of  senior  management  officers  for  2014  and  the 
performance target contract for 2015, and made recommendations to the Board in respect of matters such as 
the determination of performance target, performance appraisal procedures and results.

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  the  assessment  reports  in  relation  to  the  Company’s  operational  risk  and  internal  control, 
and coordinating the handling of sudden and significant risks or crises.

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At present, the Risk Management Committee of the fifth session of the Board comprises Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh, an 
Independent Director, Mr. Zhang Xiangxian and Mr. Liu Jiade, the Non-executive Directors, and Mr. Xu Hengping, an 
Executive Director, with Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh acting as the Chairman. Mr. Miao Ping retired from his position as 
a member of the Risk Management Committee due to the expiry of the term of the Risk Management Committee of the 
fourth session of the Board.

1.  Meetings and attendance

In  2015,  2  regular  meetings  were  held  by  the  Risk  Management  Committee  of  the  fourth  session  of  the  Board. 
Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Anthony Francis Neoh 

Zhang Xiangxian 

Miao Ping 

Independent Director, Chairman of  
the Risk Management Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board
Non-executive Director, member of  
the Risk Management Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board
Executive Director, member of the  
Risk Management Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board

2/2 

2/2 

2/2 

100%

100%

100%

In  2015,  2  regular  meetings  were  held  by  the  Risk  Management  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board. 
Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Anthony Francis Neoh 

Zhang Xiangxian 

Liu Jiade 

Xu Hengping 

Notes:

Independent Director, Chairman of  
the Risk Management Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board
Non-executive Director, member of  
the Risk Management Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board
Non-executive Director, member of  
the Risk Management Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board
Executive Director, member of the  
Risk Management Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board

2/2 

100%

1/2 Note 1 

1/2 Note 2 

50%

50%

2/2 

100%

1. 

At the first meeting of the Risk Management Committee of the fifth session of the Board held on 28 October 2015, Mr. 

Zhang Xiangxian gave written authorization for Mr. Liu Jiade to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting;

2. 

At the second meeting of the Risk Management Committee of the fifth session of the Board held on 21 December 2015, 

Mr. Liu Jiade gave written authorization for Mr. Zhang Xiangxian to act as his proxy to attend and vote at the meeting.

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2.  Performance of duties by the Risk Management Committee

In  2015,  the  Risk  Management  Committee  performed  its  duties  and  functions  in  strict  compliance  with  the 
“Procedural  Rules  for  Risk  Management  Committee  Meetings”.  All  members  performed  their  obligations  in  a 
responsible  manner,  and  gave  guiding  opinions  on  proposals  in  relation  to  the  internal  control  system  of  the 
Company, risk management and construction in compliance with laws.

(1)  Attending  meetings  of  the  Risk  Management  Committee  of  the  Board  and  providing  guidance  on  the 
risk  management  of  the  Company.  In  2015,  all  members  of  the  Risk  Management  Committee  diligently 
performed  their  duties,  attended  all  meetings  in  a  timely  manner,  and  reviewed  the  proposals  on  risk 
management  and  internal  control  of  the  Company.  During  meetings  of  the  Risk  Management  Committee, 
all members actively participated in discussions and gave guiding opinions on any proposals considered and 
discussed at the meetings.

(2)  Providing  its  opinions  for  the  review  of  the  proposals  on  risk  management  to  the  Board.  In  2015,  the 
Risk  Management  Committee  closely  monitored  and  controlled  and  effectively  prevented  internal  and 
external  risks  of  the  Company,  assisted  the  Board  in  establishing  a  well-developed  internal  control  system 
of  the  Company,  formulated  an  operational  risk  management  strategy  of  the  Company,  and  reviewed 
the  assessment  reports  on  business  risk  and  internal  control  of  the  Company  according  to  the  regulatory 
requirements  in  the  PRC  and  overseas.  The  Risk  Management  Committee  provided  its  opinions  for  the 
review  of  the  proposals  on  risk  management  such  as  the  Measures  for  the  Classification  of  Five  Tiers  of 
the  Company’s  Insurance  Asset  Risks  (Trial)  and  the  assessment  management  system  of  the  Company’s 
investment  credit  risks,  which  offered  professional  support  to  the  Board’s  decision-making  in  a  scientific 
manner.

(3)  Participated  in  meetings  of  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  Board  to  listen  to  the  matters  relevant  to  the 
annual  compliance  report  and  the  internal  control  assessment  for  the  year.  In  2015,  members  of  the  Risk 
Management  Committee  participated  in  the  thirteenth  meeting  of  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  fourth 
session of the Board and listened to the 2014 internal control assessment of the Company, and the report on 
the adjustment of internal control system of the Company according to the COSO new framework.

(4)  Conducting investigation and research on local branches. From 19 to 24 August 2015, Mr. Anthony Francis 
Neoh,  the  Chairman  of  the  Risk  Management  Committee,  conducted  investigation  and  research  on  local 
branches in Xinlin Gol and Chifeng for the purpose of understanding the risk prevention and control of the 
local  branches,  and  advised  the  local  branches  to  raise  their  awareness  of  risk  prevention  and  adhere  to  the 
bottom line of risks in their business development so as to enhance the legal compliance and risk prevention 
in a practical manner.

STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT DECISION COMMITTEE
The  Company  established  the  Strategy  Committee  on  30  June  2003.  In  October  2010,  the  proposal  to  establish  the 
Strategy and Investment Decision Committee on the basis of the Strategy Committee was reviewed and approved at the 
ninth meeting of the third session of the Board. The Strategy and Investment Decision Committee is mainly responsible 
for the drawing-up of long-term development strategies and significant investment or financing plans of the Company, 
proposing  significant  projects  of  capital  operation  and  assets  management,  and  conducting  studies  and  making 
recommendations on other important matters affecting the development of the Company.

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At present, the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee of the fifth session of the Board comprises Mr. Tang Xin 
and  Mr.  Anthony  Francis  Neoh,  the  Independent  Directors,  Mr.  Wang  Sidong,  a  Non-executive  Director,  Mr.  Lin 
Dairen  and  Mr.  Xu  Haifeng,  the  Executive  Directors,  with  Mr.  Tang  Xin  acting  as  the  Chairman.  Mr.  Su  Hengxuan 
resigned  from  his  position  as  a  member  of  the  Strategy  and  Investment  Decision  Committee  of  the  fourth  session  of 
the  Board  of  the  Company  due  to  adjustment  of  working  arrangements.  Mr.  Huang  Yiping  resigned  from  his  position 
as the Chairman of the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee of the fifth session of the Board of the Company 
pursuant to relevant policies.

1.  Meetings and attendance

In 2015, 2 regular meetings were held by the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee of the fourth session of 
the Board. Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Huang Yiping 

Lin Dairen 

Wang Sidong 

Su Hengxuan 

Anthony Francis Neoh 

Notes:

Independent Director, Chairman of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board
Executive Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board
Non-executive Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board
Executive Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fourth session of the Board

2/2 

100%

1/2 Note 1 

1/2 Note 2 

1/2 Note 3 

50%

50%

50%

2/2 

100%

1. 

At the fifteenth meeting of the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee of the fourth session of the Board held on 

23 March 2015, Mr. Lin Dairen gave written authorization for Mr. Su Hengxuan to act as his proxy to attend and vote at 

the meeting;

2. 

At the fifteenth meeting of the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee of the fourth session of the Board held on 

23 March 2015, Mr. Wang Sidong gave written authorization for Mr. Anthony Francis Neoh to act as his proxy to attend 

and vote at the meeting;

3. 

At the sixteenth meeting of the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee of the fourth session of the Board held on 

28 April 2015, Mr. Su Hengxuan gave written authorization for Mr. Lin Dairen to act as his proxy to attend and vote at 

the meeting.

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In 2015, 3 regular meetings were held by the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee of the fifth session of 
the Board. Attendance records of individual members are as follows:

Name of member 

Position 

Number of meetings attended 

Attendance rate

Huang Yiping 

Lin Dairen 

Wang Sidong 

Xu Haifeng 

Anthony Francis Neoh 

Independent Director, Chairman of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board
Executive Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board
Non-executive Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board
Executive Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board
Independent Director, member of the Strategy  
and Investment Decision Committee of 
the fifth session of the Board

2/3 Note 

67%

3/3 

3/3 

3/3 

3/3 

100%

100%

100%

100%

Note:  At  the  third  meeting  of  the  Strategy  and  Investment  Decision  Committee  of  the  fifth  session  of  the  Board  held  on  21 
December  2015,  Mr.  Huang  Yiping  gave  written  authorization  for  Mr.  Anthony  Francis  Neoh  to  act  as  his  proxy  to 

attend, vote and chair at the meeting.

2.  Performance of duties by the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee

In 2015, all members of the Strategy and Investment Decision Committee attended meetings in a timely manner, 
reviewed  the  proposals  on  the  application  of  the  Company’s  insurance  capital,  annual  investments,  major 
strategic  projects  and  annual  related  reports.  Members  of  the  Strategy  and  Investment  Committee  diligently 
performed  their  duties.  During  meetings  of  the  Strategy  and  Investment  Decision  Committee,  all  members 
actively participated in discussions and gave professional advices on any proposals considered and discussed at the 
meetings.

(1) 

Studying  the  application  of  the  Company’s  insurance  capital.  All  members  of  the  Strategy  and  Investment 
Decision  Committee  carefully  studied  the  regulatory  requirements  with  respect  to  the  application  of 
insurance  capital,  and  reviewed  the  proposals  on  the  entrusted  investment  of  the  Company  in  overseas 
private  equity  markets  and  authorization  of  the  amounts,  the  plans  on  the  allocation  of  the  Company’s 
overseas  assets  and  authorization  of  entrusted  investment,  and  authorization  of  entrusted  investment 
in  relation  to  the  marketization  of  the  Company’s  RMB  assets  according  to  the  Company’s  business 
development.  In  order  to  effectively  promote  the  investment  businesses  of  the  Company,  the  Strategy  and 
Investment Decision Committee conducted research on an annual authorization mechanism, which provided 
a key reference for the decision making of the Board.

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(2)  Reviewing  annual  investment  plans  and  entrusted  investments  of  the  Company.  In  2015,  the  Strategy 
and  Investment  Decision  Committee  carefully  reviewed  the  proposals  on  investment  plans  such  as  the 
Company’s annual investment plans and annual investment plans in relation to the self-use real estate of the 
Company; the proposals on the authorization of investments such as the authorization of annual investment 
in  non  self-use  real  estate  of  the  Company  and  the  authorization  of  annual  investment  in  insurance  asset 
management  products  of  the  Company;  and  the  proposals  on  investment  guidelines  such  as  the  annual 
agreement  and  investment  management  guidelines  of  the  Company  to  AMC  and  CLI.  The  Strategy  and 
Investment Decision Committee fully reviewed the above proposals and submitted its opinions to the Board 
in this regard.

(3)  Discussing  major  strategic  projects  of  the  Company.  In  2015,  the  Strategy  and  Investment  Decision 
Committee  fully  discussed  the  necessity,  feasibility  and  risks  of  the  proposals  on  major  strategic  projects, 
including the overseas issue by the Company of RMB debt instruments for replenishment of capital, capital 
debt  financing  of  the  Company,  strategic  asset  allocation  plan  of  the  Company  for  the  years  from  2016  to 
2020, overseas issue by the Company of senior bonds and establishment of China Life Health Insurance Co., 
Ltd., and made significant recommendations to the Board.

(4) 

Finalizing  the  relevant  annual  reports  of  the  Company.  The  Strategy  and  Investment  Decision  Committee 
discussed and reviewed the annual assessment report for the “Twelfth Five-year Plan” and the report on the 
solvency  and  capital  planning  of  the  Company  for  the  next  five  years,  and  inspected,  assessed  and  planned 
the  implementation  of  various  development  objectives  and  the  execution  of  major  work  and  measures. 
Taking into account the overall situation of domestic and international markets and the future development 
trends, as well as the key issues identified in the assessment, the committee devised plans for the solvency of 
the Company in the coming five years and suggested the key work ideas and the measures for improvement 
for the next stage.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMPANY FROM ITS CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER
Employees:  The  Company  is  independent  in  the  aspects  of  employment,  human  resources  and  remuneration 
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 other 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 law.

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.

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Business  operations:  The  Company  independently  develops  personal  insurance  businesses,  including  life  insurance, 
health insurance and accident insurance businesses, reinsurance relating to the above insurance businesses, use of funds 
permitted  by  applicable  PRC  laws  and  regulations  or  the  State  Council,  as  well  as  its  all  types  of  personal  insurance 
services,  consulting  business  and  agency  business,  and  other  businesses  permitted  by  insurance  administrative  and 
regulatory  authorities  of  the  PRC.  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.

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  disassembling  the  strategic  goals  of  the  Company  in  a 
scientific  manner,  which  is  conducive  towards  the  breakdown  of  targets  and  transmission  of  responsibility,  enhancing 
the implementation capacity 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  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 is less than the number stipulated in the Company Law or two-thirds of the number specified 
by the Articles of Association, or the uncovered losses incurred amount to one-third of the Company’s total share capital, 
or  if  the  Board  or  the  Supervisory  Committee  deems  necessary,  or  more  than  half  of  the  Directors  (including  at  least 
two Independent Directors) requests, or shareholders holding 10% or more shares of the Company make a requisition, 
the Board shall convene an extraordinary shareholders’ general meeting within two months. Where shareholders holding 
10%  or  more  shares  request  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.

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In  accordance  with  the  Articles  of  Association,  when  the  Company  convenes  the  shareholders’  general  meeting, 
shareholders  individually  or  in  aggregate  holding  3%  or  more  of  the  shares  of  the  Company  shall  have  the  right  to 
submit proposals to the Company. The Company should include such matters that fall into the scope of the functions 
and powers of the shareholders’ general meeting in the agenda of the meeting. Shareholders individually or in aggregate 
holding 3% or more of the shares of the Company may submit provisional proposals in writing to the convenor sixteen 
days prior to the shareholders’ general meeting. The provisional proposals shall fall into the scope of the functions and 
powers of the shareholders’ general meeting and specify explicit topics and specific resolution matters.

Shareholders  may  put  forward  enquiries  to  the  Board  through  the  Board  Secretary  or  the  Company  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.

INFORMATION DISCLOSURE AND INVESTOR RELATIONS
The  Company  has  established  a  well-developed  and  practical  information  disclosure  system  in  strict  compliance  with 
the laws and regulations of its listed jurisdictions and continued to improve the quality of its information disclosure so 
as  to  ensure  that  domestic  and  overseas  investors  obtain  true,  accurate  and  complete  information.  The  Company  has 
proactively  developed  investor  relations  and  strengthened  its  contact  and  communication  with  domestic  and  overseas 
investors  through  innovative  work  models,  which  enabled  domestic  and  overseas  investors  to  understand  the  business 
operations of the Company in a timely manner.

In  2015,  the  Company  continued  to  strengthen  the  construction  of  its  information  disclosure  system  and  implement 
the  regulatory  requirements  relating  to  information  disclosure  in  a  practical  manner  in  order  to  ensure  the  timeliness, 
fairness,  truthfulness,  accuracy  and  completeness  of  information  disclosure.  The  Company  constantly  promoted 
the  innovation  of  periodic  reports,  actively  studied  and  improved  the  method  of  disclosure  of  key  information,  and 
extended the scope and depth of information disclosure so as to enable investors to have a deeper understanding of the 
development  strategies  and  business  operations  of  the  Company,  thus  further  enhancing  the  quality  of  information 
disclosure of periodic reports. The Company disclosed important announcements in relation to its financial results with 
initiative  and  prudence,  which  ensured  investors  to  obtain  timely  and  accurate  information  affecting  its  decisions.  The 
Company regularly organized training courses relating to information disclosure, carried out timely study and promotion 
of new regulatory rules of its listed jurisdictions in the PRC and overseas, and explained the key points and difficulties 
of  information  disclosure.  The  Company  also  strictly  implemented  the  registration  and  filing  procedures  of  persons 
who  have  knowledge  of  inside  information,  strengthened  the  confidentiality  of  the  Company’s  inside  information,  and 
safeguarded  the  legitimate  rights  and  interests  of  investors,  with  a  view  to  maintaining  the  fairness,  impartiality  and 
openness of the information disclosure of the Company.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Corporate Governance

In  2015,  the  Company  continuously  improved  and  strengthened  its  relations  with  investors,  which  mainly  included 
holding  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  holding  results  release  conferences,  embarking  on  global  non-deal  roadshows, 
meeting  and  holding  conference  calls  with  investors  and  analysts,  attending  investors’  meetings,  frequently  updating 
information  on  its  investor  relations  website,  establishing  an  investor  relations  hotline  and  an  exclusive  electronic 
mailbox  to  ensure  timely  replies  to  any  enquiries  from  investors  and  analysts.  In  2015,  the  Company  communicated 
with  more  than  3,000  investors  and  analysts  through  different  channels,  including  the  reception  at  the  Company 
of  142  groups  of  investors  and  analysts  consisting  of  over  700  individuals  in  total,  communicating  with  more  than 
1,000  investors  by  participating  in  16  investors’  meetings  held  locally  or  overseas,  and  meeting  and  visiting  more 
than  60  investors  in  roadshows.  In  addition,  the  Company  kept  in  close  contact  with  investors  by  phone  and  email, 
communicated  with  them  through  more  than  1,500  emails,  and  answered  their  calls  and  emails  for  more  than  1,000 
person-time.

In  2015,  the  Company  was  awarded  the  “Corporate  Governance  Excellence  Awards  (for  companies  listed  on  the  Main 
Board)” in the assessment and selection of the “Hong Kong Corporate Governance Excellence Awards” jointly organized 
by  the  Chamber  of  Hong  Kong  Listed  Companies  and  the  Centre  for  Corporate  Governance  and  Financial  Policy, 
Hong Kong Baptist University. In the assessment and selection of the “Gold Bull Award for the PRC Listed Companies 
in 2014” held by China Securities in 2015, the Company was awarded the title of the “Gold Bull Award for the Most 
Profitable  Companies  in  2014”  and  Mr.  Zheng  Yong,  the  Board  Secretary,  was  awarded  the  title  of  the  “Gold  Bull 
Award  for  Best  Board  Secretary  in  2014”.  In  the  assessment  and  selection  of  the  “2014  China  Most  Valuable  Listed 
Companies  in  the  PRC”  held  by  the  Securities  Times,  Mr.  Zheng  Yong,  the  Board  Secretary,  was  awarded  the  title  of 
the “Top 100 Board Secretaries in the PRC Listed Companies”, whereas in the assessment and selection of the “Golden 
Governance-Outstanding  Board  Secretaries  of  Listed  Companies  in  2015”  held  by  Shanghai  Securities  News,  he  was 
awarded the title of the “Golden Governance-Board Secretary for Information Disclosure”.

CHANGES OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
With  the  approval  at  the  2014  Annual  General  Meeting  held  on  28  May  2015,  the  Company  added  the  “fund  sales 
business” into its business scope as stipulated in the Articles of Association and amended certain articles pursuant to the 
regulatory requirements. The amendment shall take effect after the approval of the CIRC is obtained. For details of such 
amendments, please refer to the Supplemental Notice of Annual General Meeting of the Company dated 8 May 2015.

96

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Internal Control

I. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM
The  Company  has  been  devoting  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 “Implementation Guidelines for Corporate Internal Control”, the 
“Guidance on Internal Control for Companies Listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange”, the “Rules Governing the 
Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited”, and the “Basic Standards of Internal Control 
for Insurance Companies” issued by the CIRC, the Company has carried out a lot of work on its internal control 
system  establishment,  rules  implementation  and  risk  management  by  strictly  following  its  corporate  governance 
structure. The Company also formulated and issued the “Internal Control Implementation Manual of China Life 
Insurance  Company  Limited  (2015  Edition)”  to  strengthen  the  implementation  of  internal  control  standards 
and  internal  control  assessments,  and  actively  promoted  the  culture  and  philosophy  of  internal  control,  thereby 
continuously enhancing the internal control of the Company.

Pursuant to the requirements of the “Notice on the Proper Preparation for Disclosure of 2015 Annual Reports of 
Listed Companies” promulgated by the SSE, the Company shall release an Internal Control Self-assessment Report 
simultaneously  with  the  publication  of  its  2015  annual  report.  The  Company,  as  an  overseas  private  issuer,  was 
required  to  provide  a  specific  assessment  report  on  its  internal  control  system  relating  to  financial  reporting  for 
the  year  ended  31  December  2015  in  its  Form  20-F  (U.S.  Annual  Report)  submitted  to  the  U.S.  Securities  and 
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) 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 of the jurisdictions where the Company 
is  listed,  the  Company  has  completed  internal  control  self-assessments  in  relation  to  the  requirements  of  Section 
404  of  the  U.S.  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  and  the  SSE  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  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 as at 31 December 2015. 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.

It  is  the  responsibility  of  the  Board  of  the  Company  to  establish  and  effectively  implement  well-established 
internal  control  systems,  assess  their  effectiveness  and  disclose  the  report  on  the  internal  control  assessment.  The 
Board  and  the  Audit  Committee  are  responsible  for  leading  the  implementation  of  internal  control  measures  of 
the Company, and the Supervisory Committee supervises the internal control assessments performed 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, assesses the effectiveness of the established and implemented internal control systems in accordance with the 
requirements of the PRC regulatory requirements and Section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and reports to 
the Board, the Audit Committee and the management.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Internal Control

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,  external  investments,  physical  assets, 
information  technology,  financial  reporting  and  information  disclosure  to  ensure  the  safety  and  integrity  of  its 
assets.  By  complying  with  relevant  PRC  laws  and  regulations  as  well  as  the  internal  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
Company, the quality of accounting information has been improved.

A  relatively  well-developed  internal  control  system  has  been  established  in  terms  of  team-building,  sales  and 
operations,  and  system  management  for  the  sales  channels,  such  as  individual  insurance,  group  insurance, 
bancassurance, health insurance and e-commerce. This internal control system regulates the relevant authorizations 
and  operational  workflows,  and  effectively  adopts  the  measures  to  prevent  and  manage  risks  relating  to 
the  operation  of  exclusive  agents.  The  Company  has  promulgated  clear  regulations  for  the  workflows  and 
authorizations  relating  to  the  verification  of  insurance  policies,  insurance  claims  and  insurance  preservation.  The 
Company  has  also  formulated  business  operation  standards  and  service  quality  standards,  developed  systems  of 
business, document and file management, and further regulated the management of business approval authority to 
strengthen its control over business risk and improve the quality of its services.

In  accordance  with  relevant  laws  and  regulations  such  as  the  “Accounting  Law  of  the  People’s  Republic  of 
China”  and  the  “Enterprise  Accounting  Standards”  and  taking  into  account  the  needs  of  the  Company  for  its 
business  development,  operation  and  management,  the  Company  formulated  and  issued  the  “Accounting  System 
of  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited”  and  the  “Accounting  Practices  of  China  Life  Insurance  Company 
Limited”. The accounting units of the Company at all levels have implemented them in strict compliance with the 
requirements of the accounting system and various basic systems to regulate works relating to financial accounting 
and preparation of financial reports. The accounting units of the Company at all levels have assigned positions in 
a  reasonable  manner,  clearly  defined  duties  and  responsibilities  of  such  positions  and  their  scope  of  authority  on 
management, and strictly prohibited employees from serving incompatible positions concurrently, thus exercising 
the control over financial risks in an efficient manner.

The  Company  has  formulated  the  “Provisional  Measures  on  Accountability  System  for  Major  Errors  in  Periodic 
Report  Disclosures  of  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited”,  which  set  forth  provisions  governing  the  basic 
responsibilities of periodic report disclosures, the major errors in periodic report disclosures and the responsibility 
attribution.  As  of  31  December  2015,  there  has  been  no  major  error  in  periodic  report  disclosures  of  the 
Company.  In  order  to  regulate  its  inside  information  management  and  enhance  the  confidentiality  of  its  inside 
information,  the  Company  formulated  the  “Measures  for  the  Administration  of  Persons  Who  Have  Knowledge 
of  Inside  Information  of  China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited”,  which  was  strictly  implemented  in  all 
departments, branches, subsidiaries and major affiliates of the Company.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Internal Control

The  Company  has  established  a  well-developed  system  relating  to  investment  decisions  in  accordance  with  the 
relevant  laws  and  regulations  and  based  on  the  actual  situation  of  investment  management.  The  system  defines 
the  approval  and  decision-making  authority,  authorization  mechanism  and  specific  decision-making  procedures 
for  investment  management.  All  major  investment  decisions  shall  be  approved  at  an  appropriate  level  and  their 
actual implementation shall be in strict compliance with the relevant requirements of the investment management 
system.  The  Investment  Decisions  Committee  is  a  permanent  body  of  the  Company  for  investment  decisions, 
which is responsible for reviewing major investments and providing support to any investment decisions made by 
the management.

The  Company  has  established  a  comprehensive  information  technology  system  and  formed  a  closed-loop 
mechanism  focusing  on  centralized  review  and  publication,  periodic  inspection  and  continuous  improvement. 
Further,  the  Company  has  promoted  the  construction  of  an  information  safety  system,  and  formulated  and 
implemented  a  series  of  effective  internal  control  measures  in  the  course  of  system  development  and  testing  and 
day-to-day  operation  and  management,  thereby  strengthening  the  information  safety  control  and  improving  the 
information safety management of the Company.

The  Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Department,  Audit  Department  and  Supervision  Department  of 
the  Company  are  responsible  for  overseeing  the  implementation  of  its  internal  control  policies.  The  Internal 
Control and Risk Management Department identifies issues in the areas of system design, control implementation 
and  risk  management  in  a  timely  manner  through  the  adoption  of  various  measures  such  as  walk-through  test, 
control  test  and  risk  analysis.  It  also  eliminates  loopholes,  guards  against  risks  and  reduces  losses  by  adopting 
various  measures  to  improve  systems,  enhances  legal  compliance  and  pursues  responsible  persons.  Adhering  to 
the  risk-oriented  principle,  in  addition  to  the  routine  audits,  the  Audit  Department  has  carried  out  a  variety  of 
ad-hoc audits, covering strategic resources investment, invoices and seals management, costs overrun, information 
system  security,  connected  transactions,  rectification  of  internal  control  deficiencies,  subsequent  audit  and  anti-
money  laundering.  These  routine  and  ad-hoc  audits  enabled  the  Company  to  identify  potential  risks  in  a  timely 
manner and promote the business operation of the Company in compliance with applicable laws and regulations 
through  improving  the  supervision  and  remedial  mechanisms,  strengthening  the  implementation  of  rectification 
measures  and  enhancing  the  application  of  audit  results.  The  Company  has  formulated  regulations  with  respect 
to  the  reporting,  investigation,  handling  of  and  responsibility  attribution  for  cases  involving  any  violations  of 
laws,  disciplinary  rules  and  regulations  by  employees,  each  being  implemented  by  the  Supervision  Department, 
which  ensures  that  cases  involving  any  violations  of  laws,  disciplinary  rules  and  regulations  by  employees  are 
handled in a timely manner, and the persons involved will be attributed to proper responsibility. The Supervision 
Department reports the cases involving insurance agents (which specifically refer to judicial cases) and manages the 
responsibility  attribution  of  such  cases  in  accordance  with  regulations  such  as  the  “Notice  on  the  Establishment 
of  a  Reporting  System  of  Judicial  Cases  involving  Insurance  Industry”  issued  by  the  CIRC  and  internal  policies 
such  as  the  “Implementing  Rules  for  Responsibility  Attribution  of  Cases”,  and  constantly  optimizes  the  relevant 
internal policies pursuant to the standards for administration of cases of insurance institutions promulgated by the 
competent authorities in charge of supervision of the insurance industry.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Internal Control

II.  RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company established a 5-tier organizational structure with the ultimate responsibility assumed by the Board, 
under  the  direct  leadership  of  the  management,  having  reliance  on  the  risk  management  departments  and  with 
the close cooperation among the relevant functional departments. The first tier is the corporate governance level, 
including the Board, the Supervisory Committee, and the Risk Management Committee and the Audit Committee 
under the Board. The second tier is the headquarter level. The President’s Office of the Company has set up the 
Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Committee,  under  which  several  functional  departments,  such  as  the 
Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Department,  the  Legal  and  Compliance  Department,  the  Supervision 
Department,  the  Audit  Department,  and  the  departments  in  charge  of  finance  and  business  administration,  are 
established. The third tier is the provincial branches level. The General Manager’s Office of the Company has set 
up  the  Internal  Control  and  Risk  Management  Committee,  under  which  several  functional  departments,  such  as 
the Internal Control and Compliance Department, the Supervision Department, and the departments in charge of 
finance  and  business  administration,  are  established.  The  fourth  tier  is  the  local  or  city  branches  level,  including 
Supervision  (Legal  and  Compliance)  Departments  and  related  functional  departments.  The  fifth  tier  is  the 
county  sub-branches  level,  the  persons  responsible  for  internal  control  and  risk  management  of  which  have  been 
determined. By establishing the organizational structure of risk control, the Company has gradually established a 
criss-cross  network  of  risk  control  system,  with  the  risk  management  departments  at  all  levels  as  leading  bodies, 
the  relevant  functional  departments  as  main  bodies,  the  vertical  decision-making  control  system  and  horizontal 
interactive  collaboration  mechanism  as  supporting  systems  and  the  comprehensive  risk  management  as  focus, 
thus  laying  a  strong  foundation  for  the  Company  to  achieve  a  comprehensive  risk  management  system  with  full 
coverage, all-employee participation and effective workflows.

In 2015, the Company commenced a project for the establishment of a solvency risk management system pursuant 
to  the  requirements  of  the  CIRC  with  respect  to  a  trial  run  during  the  transitional  period  of  the  C-ROSS  and 
benchmarked such system to the regulatory rules in all aspects so as to refine the regulatory assessment standards 
in two levels: the completeness of the system and the effectiveness of its implementation. By improving the system 
and  mechanism  of  insolvency  risk  management,  the  Company  optimized  its  mechanism  for  the  formation  and 
transmission  of  risk  preference.  A  trial  assessment  on  solvency  risk  management  was  carried  out  pursuant  to  the 
regulatory  requirements,  and  the  scores  for  such  trial  assessment  effectively  increased.  Meanwhile,  the  Company 
conducted an in-depth analysis on the results of the trial assessment and prepared a breakdown structure in respect 
thereof  in  order  to  constantly  improve  its  solvency  risk  management.  The  Company  continued  to  comply  with 
the  “Guidelines  for  the  Implementation  of  Comprehensive  Risk  Management  of  Personal  Insurance  Companies” 
issued  by  the  CIRC,  developed  and  improved  the  framework  for  comprehensive  risk  management,  continued  to 
carry  out  risk  alert  and  risk  alert  classification  management,  and  strengthened  its  ability  to  guard  against  risks  in 
key risk fields.

For an analysis and management 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.

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Honors and Awards

“Forbes”

“2015 Forbes Global 2000”, ranking No.37

“FORTUNE China”

“2015 Top 500 Chinese Enterprises”, ranking No.13

Hexun.com and China Securities Market 
Research and Design Center (SEEC) – the “13th 
China’s Financial Annual Champion Awards of 
2015”

The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies 
and the Center for Corporate Governance and 
Financial Policy, Hong Kong Baptist University

“2015 Most Reliable Life Insurance Company”

“Hong Kong Corporate Governance Excellence Awards”

Millward Brown

“2015 BrandZ Top 100 Global Most Valuable Brands”, 

ranking No.62

“Financial Times” – “2015 Gold Medal List of 
Chinese Financial Institutions”

“2015 Golden Dragon Award – Best Listed Insurance 

Company of the Year”

“Value Line” Magazine – the “2nd China Listed 
Companies Value Ranking List of 2015”

“2015 Best Listed Company of China”

“National Business Daily” – Assessment and 
Selection of the “Golden Tripod Award” (the 6th 
Session)

“21st Century Business Herald” – “Asian 
Insurance Companies Competitiveness Ranking 
of 2015”

Assessment and Selection of the “2015 China 
Listed Companies Most Respected by Investors” 
jointly organized by the Listed Companies 
Association of the PRC, China Securities Investor 
Protection Fund Corporation, the Shanghai 
Stock Exchange, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, 
the Securities Association of China, the Asset 
Management Association of China, and co – 
organized by “Securities Times”

International Customer Management Institute 
(ICMI) – Assessment and Selection of the “2015 
Best Global  
Call Center”

“2015 Golden Tripod Award – the Insurance Company 
with the Best Comprehensive Strength of the Year”

“2015 Best Life Insurance Company in Asia”

“2015 Top 100 China Listed Companies Most Respected by 

Investors”

“2015 Best Global Call Center”

101

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Independent Auditors’ 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  set  out  on  pages  103  to  227,  which  comprise  the  consolidated  statement  of  financial  position  as  at 
31 December 2015, and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in 
equity  and  the  consolidated  statement  of  cash  flows  for  the  year  then  ended,  and  a  summary  of  significant  accounting 
policies and other explanatory information.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The  directors  of  the  Company  are  responsible  for  the  preparation  of  consolidated  financial  statements  that  give  a  true 
and  fair  view  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  the  disclosure  requirements  of  the 
Hong  Kong  Companies  Ordinance,  and  for  such  internal  control  as  the  directors  determine  is  necessary  to  enable  the 
preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

AUDITORS’ RESPONSIBILITY

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. Our report is 
made solely to you, as a body, in accordance with the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, and for no other purpose. We 
do not assume responsibility towards or accept liability to any other person for the contents of this report.

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  about  whether  the 
consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated 
financial  statements.  The  procedures  selected  depend  on  the  auditors’  judgement,  including  the  assessment  of  the 
risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those 
risk  assessments,  the  auditors  consider  internal  control  relevant  to  the  entity’s  preparation  of  consolidated  financial 
statements  that  give  a  true  and  fair  view  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 consolidated financial statements.

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

OPINION

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Company 
and its subsidiaries as at 31 December 2015, and of their financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended 
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and have been properly prepared in compliance with the 
disclosure requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance.

Ernst & Young
Certified Public Accountants

Hong Kong
23 March 2016

102

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

As at 31 December 2015

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

As at 31 
December 
2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December
2014
RMB million

26,974 
1,237 
47,175 
504,075 
207,267 
562,622 
6,333 
770,516 
137,990 
21,503 
49,552 
11,913 
1,420 
23,642 
76,096 

25,348
1,283
44,390
517,283
166,453
690,156
6,153
607,531
53,052
11,925
44,350
11,166
1,032
19,411
47,034

Notes 

6 
7 
8 
9.1 
9.2 
9.3 
9.4 
9.5 
9.6 
9.7 
9.8 
11 
12 
13 

Total assets 

2,448,315 

2,246,567

The notes on pages 110 to 227 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at 31 December 2015

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities
Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 
Policyholder dividends payable 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 
Bonds payable 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Annuity and other insurance balances payable 
Premiums received in advance 
Other liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Current income tax liabilities 
Statutory insurance fund 

Total liabilities 

Equity
Share capital 
Other equity instruments 
Reserves 
Retained earnings 

As at 31 
December 
2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December
2014
RMB million

Notes 

14 
15 

16 
17 

18 

19 
28 

20 

34 
35 
36 

1,715,985 
84,106 
107,774 
2,643 
67,994 
856 
31,354 
30,092 
32,266 
26,514 
16,953 
5,347 
217 

1,603,446
72,275
74,745
2,623
67,989
10,890
46,089
25,617
15,850
20,062
19,375
52
223

2,122,101 

1,959,236

28,265 
7,791 
163,381 
123,055 

28,265
–
145,919
109,937

Attributable to equity holders of the Company 

322,492 

284,121

Non-controlling interests 

Total equity 

Total liabilities and equity 

3,722 

3,210

326,214 

287,331

2,448,315 

2,246,567

Approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 23 March 2016.

Yang Mingsheng 

Director 

Lin Dairen

Director

The notes on pages 110 to 227 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

104

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

For the year ended 31 December 2015

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 on financial assets 
Net fair value gains through profit or loss 
Other income 

Total revenues 

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

Increase in insurance contract liabilities 

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

Total benefits, claims and expenses 

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures, net 

Profit before income tax 
Income tax 

Net profit 

Attributable to:
  – Equity holders of the Company 
  – Non-controlling interests 

Notes 

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

363,971 
(978) 

362,993 
(692) 

331,010
(515)

330,495
(390)

362,301 

330,105

97,582 
32,297 
10,209 
5,060 

93,548
7,120
5,808
4,185

507,449 

440,766

(221,701) 
(21,009) 
(109,509) 
(2,264) 
(33,491) 
(35,569) 
(4,320) 
(27,458) 
(7,428) 
(743) 

(192,659)
(16,752)
(105,883)
(1,958)
(24,866)
(27,147)
(4,726)
(25,432)
(4,151)
(701)

(463,492) 

(404,275)

1,974 

3,911

45,931 
(10,744) 

40,402
(7,888)

35,187 

32,514

34,699 
488 

32,211
303

21 
22 
23 

24 
24 
24 
25 

26 

20 

8 

27 
28 

Basic and diluted earnings per share 

30 

RMB1.22 

RMB1.14

The notes on pages 110 to 227 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

105

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 December 2015

Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified to
  profit or loss in subsequent periods:
Fair value gains on available-for-sale securities 
Amount transferred to net profit from other comprehensive income 
Portion of fair value changes on available-for-sale securities
  attributable to participating policyholders 
Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures
  under the equity method 
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations 
Income tax relating to components of other comprehensive income 

Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified to
  profit or loss in subsequent periods 

Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified to
  profit or loss in subsequent periods 

Note 

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

28 

54,080 
(32,297) 

70,342
(7,120)

(12,767) 

(11,035)

353 
10 
(2,242) 

120
–
(13,023)

7,137 

39,284

– 

–

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax 

7,137 

39,284

Total comprehensive income for the year, net of tax 

42,324 

71,798

Attributable to:
  – Equity holders of the Company 
  – Non-controlling interests 

41,775 
549 

71,443
355

The notes on pages 110 to 227 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

For the year ended 31 December 2015

Attributable to equity holders 
of the Company 

Non-controlling
interests 

Total

Share  
capital 
RMB million 
(Note 34) 

Other equity 
instruments 
RMB million 
(Note 35) 

Reserves 
RMB million 
(Note 36)

Retained
earnings
RMB million 

RMB million 

RMB million

As at 1 January 2014 
Net profit 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners
Capital paid in by 
  non-controlling interests 
Appropriation to reserves (Note 36) 
Dividends paid (Note 32) 
Dividends to non-controlling interests 

Total transactions with owners 

As at 31 December 2014 

As at 1 January 2015 
Net profit 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners
Capital paid in by 
  non-controlling interests 
Capital paid in by other equity

instruments holders 

Appropriation to reserves (Note 36) 
Dividends paid (Note 32) 
Dividends to non-controlling interests 
Others 

Total transactions with owners 

28,265 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

28,265 

28,265 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

7,791 
– 
– 
– 
– 

97,029 
– 
39,232 

95,037 
32,211 
– 

2,254 
303 
52 

222,585
32,514
39,284

39,232 

32,211 

355 

71,798

826 
8,832 
– 
– 

– 
(8,832) 
(8,479) 
– 

692 
– 
– 
(91) 

1,518
–
(8,479)
(91)

9,658 

(17,311) 

601 

(7,052)

145,919 

109,937 

3,210 

287,331

145,919 
– 
7,076 

109,937 
34,699 
– 

3,210 
488 
61 

287,331
35,187
7,137

7,076 

34,699 

549 

42,324

– 

– 

– 
10,090 
– 
– 
296 

– 
(10,090) 
(11,491) 
– 
– 

80 

– 
– 
– 
(117) 
– 

80

7,791
–
(11,491)
(117)
296

7,791 

10,386 

(21,581) 

(37) 

(3,441)

As at 31 December 2015 

28,265 

7,791 

163,381 

123,055 

3,722 

326,214

The notes on pages 110 to 227 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

107

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 December 2015

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Profit before income tax 

Adjustments for:

Investment income 

  Net realised and unrealised gains on financial assets 

Insurance contracts 

  Depreciation and amortisation 
  Foreign exchange gains 
  Share of profit of associates and joint ventures, net 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
  Securities at fair value through profit or loss 
  Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 
  Receivables and payables 

Income tax paid 
Interest received – securities at fair value through profit or loss 
  Dividends received – securities at fair value through profit or loss 

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

45,931 

40,402

(97,582) 
(42,506) 
112,142 
2,036 
(812) 
(1,974) 

(100,089) 
403 
70,482 
(8,380) 
1,225 
313 

(93,548)
(12,928)
108,955
2,124
(268)
(3,911)

(13,698)
9,704
41,330
(1,923)
1,902
106

Net cash inflows/(outflows) from operating activities 

(18,811) 

78,247

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Disposals and maturities:
  Disposals of debt securities 
  Maturities of debt securities 
  Disposals of equity securities 
  Property, plant and equipment 
  Disposal of subsidiaries 
Purchases:
  Debt securities 
  Equity securities 
  Property, plant and equipment 
Additional capital contribution to associates and joint ventures 
Decrease/(increase) in term deposits, net 
Decrease/(increase) in securities purchased under agreements to resell, net 
Interest received 
Dividends received 
Decrease/(increase) in policy loans, net 

11,546 
41,806 
400,451 
199 
3,875 

(53,340) 
(522,787) 
(8,384) 
(766) 
124,838 
(9,602) 
81,688 
8,828 
(11,305) 

21,242
22,407
285,647
437
–

(115,808)
(312,544)
(5,048)
(5,671)
(25,972)
(3,630)
78,903
4,258
(13,478)

Net cash inflows/(outflows) from investing activities 

67,047 

(69,257)

The notes on pages 110 to 227 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

108

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

(13,757) 
7,791 
– 
– 
(4,471) 
(11,491) 
(117) 
2,630 

25,663
–
2,881
(10)
(4,618)
(8,479)
(91)
1,358

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Increase/(decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase, net 
Cash received from issuing other equity instruments 
Cash received from borrowings 
Cash repaid to lenders 
Interest paid 
Dividends paid to equity holders of the Company 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests 
Capital injected into subsidiaries by non-controlling interests 

Net cash inflows/(outflows) from financing activities 

(19,415) 

16,704

Foreign exchange gains on cash and cash equivalents 

241 

10

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

29,062 

25,704

Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of the year 

End of the year 

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

47,034 

21,330

76,096 

47,034

74,135 
1,961 

45,439
1,595

The notes on pages 110 to 227 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

1  ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

China  Life  Insurance  Company  Limited  (the  “Company”)  was  established  in  the  People’s  Republic  of  China 
(“China”  or  the  “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 (“CLIC”, formerly China Life Insurance Company) 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,  annuity, 
accident and health insurance products in China.

The  Company  is  a  joint  stock  company  incorporated  in  the  PRC  with  limited  liability.  The  address  of  its 
registered  office  is:  16  Financial  Street,  Xicheng  District,  Beijing,  the  PRC.  The  Company  is  listed  on  the  New 
York Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, 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  23 
March 2016.

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, unless otherwise stated.

2.1  Basis of preparation

The Group has prepared these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting  Standards  (“IFRSs”),  amendments  to  IFRSs  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  Limited  (the  “Listing  Rules”)  and  the  applicable  disclosure  requirements  of  the  Hong  Kong 
Companies  Ordinance.  The  Group  has  prepared  the  consolidated  financial  statements  under  the  historical 
cost  convention,  except  for  financial  assets  and  liabilities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss,  available-for-
sale  securities,  insurance  contract  liabilities  and  certain  property,  plant  and  equipment  at  deemed  cost  as 
part of the Restructuring process. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires 
the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the 
process  of  applying  the  Group’s  accounting  policies.  The  areas  involving  a  higher  degree  of  judgement  or 
complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements 
are disclosed in Note 3.

110

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  Basis of preparation (continued)

2.1.1 New  accounting  standards  and  amendments  adopted  by  the  Group  for  the  first  time  for 

the financial year beginning on 1 January 2015

Standards
Annual Improvements 2010-2012 Cycle
Annual Improvements 2011-2013 Cycle

The  Annual  Improvements  2010-2012  Cycle  issued  in  January  2014  sets  out  amendments  to  a  number  of 
IFRSs and International Accounting Standards (“IASs”). Details of the main amendments that are effective 
for the current year are as follows:

IFRS 8 Amendments – Operating Segments
The  amendments  to  IFRS  8  clarify  that  an  entity  must  disclose  the  judgements  made  by  management 
in  applying  the  aggregation  criteria  in  IFRS  8,  including  a  brief  description  of  operating  segments  that 
have  been  aggregated  and  the  economic  characteristics  used  to  assess  whether  the  segments  are  similar. 
The  amendments  also  clarify  that  the  reconciliation  of  segment  assets  to  total  assets  is  only  required  to  be 
disclosed if the reconciliation is reported to the chief operating decision maker. The amendments have had 
no impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

IAS 24 Amendments – Related Party Disclosures
The  amendments  to  IAS  24  clarify  that  a  management  entity  (an  entity  that  provides  key  management 
personnel  services)  is  a  related  party  subject  to  the  related  party  disclosures.  In  addition,  an  entity  that 
uses  a  management  entity  is  required  to  disclose  the  expenses  incurred  for  management  services.  These 
amendments  are  not  relevant  for  the  Group  as  it  does  not  receive  any  management  services  from  other 
entities.

The  Annual  Improvements  2011-2013  Cycle  issued  in  January  2014  sets  out  amendments  to  a  number  of 
IFRSs and IASs. Details of the main amendments that are effective for the current year are as follows:

IFRS 3 Amendments – Business Combinations
The  amendments  to  IFRS  3  clarify  that  joint  arrangements,  not  just  joint  ventures,  are  outside  the  scope 
of  IFRS  3.  This  scope  exception  applies  only  to  the  accounting  in  the  financial  statements  of  the  joint 
arrangement  itself.  The  amendments  have  had  no  impact  on  the  Group  as  the  Company  is  not  a  joint 
arrangement.

111

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  Basis of preparation (continued)

2.1.1 New  accounting  standards  and  amendments  adopted  by  the  Group  for  the  first  time  for 

the financial year beginning on 1 January 2015 (continued)

IFRS 13 Amendments – Fair Value Measurement
The  amendments  to  IFRS  13  clarify  that  the  portfolio  exception  in  IFRS  13  can  be  applied  not  only  to 
financial  assets  and  financial  liabilities,  but  also  to  other  contracts  within  the  scope  of  IFRS  9  Financial 
Instruments and IAS 39 Recognition and Measurement. The amendments have had no impact on the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements.

In  addition,  the  Group  has  adopted  the  amendments  to  the  Listing  Rules  relating  to  the  disclosure  of 
financial  information  with  reference  to  the  Hong  Kong  Companies  Ordinance  (Cap.  622)  during  the 
current financial year. The main impact to the financial statements is on the presentation and disclosure of 
certain information in the financial statements.

2.1.2 New  accounting  standards  and  amendments  that  are  not  yet  effective  and  have  not  been 

early adopted by the Group for the financial year beginning on 1 January 2015

Standards/Amendments 

Content 

Effective for annual period
 beginning on or after

IAS 27 Amendments 
IFRS 10 and IAS 28 
  Amendments 
IFRS 11 Amendments 

IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and 
IAS 28 Amendments 

IAS 7 Amendments 
IFRS 9 
IFRS 15 
IFRS 16 

Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements 
Sale or Contribution of Assets between 
  an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture
Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in  

Joint Operations

Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation 
  Exception
Statement of Cash Flows 
Financial Instruments 
Revenue from Contracts with Customers 
Leases 

1 January 2016
1 January 2016

1 January 2016

1 January 2016

1 January 2017
1 January 2018
1 January 2018
1 January 2019

IAS 27 Amendments – Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements
The  amendments  to  IAS  27  will  allow  entities  to  use  the  equity  method  to  account  for  investments  in 
subsidiaries,  joint  ventures  and  associates  in  their  separate  financial  statements.  The  amendments  are 
effective  for  annual  periods  beginning  on  or  after  1  January  2016,  with  early  adoption  permitted.  The 
amendments are not expected to have any impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements since the 
Group has no intention to apply the equity method in the separate financial statements.

112

 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  Basis of preparation (continued)

2.1.2 New  accounting  standards  and  amendments  that  are  not  yet  effective  and  have  not  been 

early adopted by the Group for the financial year beginning on 1 January 2015 (continued)

IFRS 10 and IAS 28 Amendments – Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or 
Joint Venture
These  amendments  eliminate  the  inconsistency  between  the  requirements  in  IFRS  10  and  those  in  IAS  28 
Investments  in  Associates  and  Joint  Ventures  with  regard  to  dealing  with  the  contribution  or  sale  of  assets 
between  an  investor  and  its  associate  or  joint  venture.  These  amendments  are  effective  for  annual  periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2016, with early adoption permitted. The amendments are not expected to 
have any material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

IFRS 11 Amendments – Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations
The amendments to IFRS 11 require that a joint operator accounting for the acquisition of an interest in a 
joint  operation,  in  which  the  activity  of  the  joint  operation  constitutes  a  business,  must  apply  the  relevant 
IFRS 3 principles for business combinations accounting. The amendments also clarify that a previously held 
interest in a joint operation is not remeasured on the acquisition of an additional interest in the same joint 
operation  while  joint  control  is  retained.  The  amendments  are  effective  for  annual  periods  beginning  on 
or  after  1  January  2016,  with  early  adoption  permitted.  It  is  not  expected  that  the  amendments  would  be 
relevant to the Group, since the Group has no joint operation as at 31 December 2015.

IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 28 Amendments – Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception
Amendments  to  IFRS  10  clarify  that  the  exemption  from  presenting  consolidated  financial  statements 
applies to a parent entity that is a subsidiary of an investment entity, when the investment entity measures 
all of its subsidiaries at fair value. The amendments to IFRS 10 also clarify that only a subsidiary that is not 
an  investment  entity  itself  and  provides  support  services  to  the  investment  entity  is  consolidated.  All  other 
subsidiaries  of  an  investment  entity  are  measured  at  fair  value.  Consequential  amendments  were  made  to 
IFRS 12 to require an investment entity that prepares financial statements in which all of its subsidiaries are 
measured at fair value through profit or loss in accordance with IFRS 9 to present the disclosures in respect 
of investment entities in accordance with IFRS 12. IAS 28 was also amended to allow an investor that is not 
itself  an  investment  entity,  and  has  an  interest  in  an  investment  entity  associate  or  joint  venture,  to  retain 
the fair value measurement applied by the investment entity associate or joint  venture to  the interest in  its 
subsidiaries.  The  amendments  are  not  expected  to  have  any  material  impact  on  the  Group’s  consolidated 
financial statements as the Company is not an investment entity as defined in IFRS 10.

113

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.1  Basis of preparation (continued)

2.1.2 New  accounting  standards  and  amendments  that  are  not  yet  effective  and  have  not  been 

early adopted by the Group for the financial year beginning on 1 January 2015 (continued)

IAS 7 Amendments – Statement of Cash Flows
In  January  2016,  the  IASB  published  amendments  to  IAS  7  Statement  of  Cash  Flows.  The  amendments 
require  an  entity  to  provide  disclosures  that  enable  users  of  financial  statements  to  evaluate  changes  in 
liabilities  arising  from  financing  activities,  including  both  changes  arising  from  cash  flows  and  non-cash 
changes.  The  amendments  should  be  applied  for  annual  periods  beginning  on  or  after  1  January  2017, 
early  application  permitted.  When  an  entity  first  applies  the  amendments,  it  is  not  required  to  provide 
comparative information for preceding periods.

IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments
In July 2014, the IASB issued the final version of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments which reflects all phases of 
the  financial  instruments  project  and  replaces  IAS  39  Financial  Instruments:  Recognition  and  Measurement 
and  all  previous  versions  of  IFRS  9.  The  standard  introduces  new  requirements  for  classification  and 
measurement,  impairment,  and  hedge  accounting.  IFRS  9  is  effective  for  annual  periods  beginning  on  or 
after  1  January  2018,  with  early  adoption  permitted.  The  Group  is  currently  assessing  the  impact  on  the 
Group’s consolidated financial statements.

IFRS 15 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers
IFRS 15 establishes a new five-step model that will apply to revenue arising from contracts with customers. 
Under  IFRS  15,  revenue  is  recognised  at  an  amount  that  reflects  the  consideration  to  which  an  entity 
expects  to  be  entitled  in  exchange  for  transferring  goods  or  services  to  a  customer.  The  principles  in  IFRS 
15  provide  a  more  structured  approach  for  measuring  and  recognising  revenue.  In  September  2015,  the 
IASB issued amendments to IFRS 15 regarding a one-year deferral of the mandatory effective date of IFRS 
15  to  1  January  2018.  IFRS  15  is  not  applied  to  the  insurance  contracts  and  financial  instruments,  which 
are  the  main  sources  of  the  Group’s  revenue.  The  Group  is  currently  assessing  the  impact  on  the  Group’s 
consolidated financial statements.

IFRS 16 – Leases
IFRS  16  supersedes  IAS  17  Leases.  It  requires  lessees  to  recognise  leases  as  assets  and  liabilities  on  their 
balance  sheets,  with  certain  exemptions.  The  lessor  accounting  is  substantially  unchanged.  IFRS  16  will  be 
effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. Early application  is permitted,  provided 
that IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers is applied. The Group is currently assessing the impact 
on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

In  addition,  the  Annual  Improvements  2012-2014  Cycle  issued  in  September  2014  sets  out  amendments 
to  other  standards.  These  annual  improvements  were  established  to  make  non-urgent  but  necessary 
amendments to IFRSs. No material changes to the accounting policies of the Group are expected as a result 
of these annual improvements.

114

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.2  Consolidation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  financial  statements  of  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries 
for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015.  Subsidiaries  are  those  entities  which  are  controlled  by  the  Group 
(including the structured entities controlled by the Group). Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, 
or  has  rights,  to  variable  returns  from  its  involvement  with  the  investee  and  has  the  ability  to  affect  those 
returns  through  its  power  over  the  investee.  Specifically,  the  Group  controls  an  investee  if  and  only  if  the 
Group has:

•	

•	
•	

power	 over	 the	 investee	 (i.e.	 existing	 rights	 that	 give	 it	 the	 current	 ability	 to	 direct	 the	 relevant	
activities of the investee);
exposure,	or	rights,	to	variable	returns	from	its	involvement	with	the	investee;	and
the	ability	to	use	its	power	over	the	investee	to	affect	its	returns.

When the Group has less than a majority of the voting or similar rights of an investee, the Group considers 
all relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether it has power over an investee, including:

•	
•	
•	

the	contractual	arrangement	with	the	other	vote	holders	of	the	investee;
rights	arising	from	other	contractual	arrangements;	and
the	Group’s	voting	rights	and	potential	voting	rights.

The  Group  re-assesses  whether  or  not  it  controls  an  investee  if  facts  and  circumstances  indicate  that  there 
are changes to one or more of the three elements of control. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the 
Group obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Group loses control of the subsidiary.

Profit  or  loss  and  each  component  of  other  comprehensive  income  (“OCI”)  are  attributed  to  the  equity 
holders  of  the  Company  and  to  the  non-controlling  interests,  even  if  this  results  in  the  non-controlling 
interests  having  a  deficit  balance.  When  necessary,  adjustments  are  made  to  the  financial  statements  of 
subsidiaries  to  bring  their  accounting  policies  in  line  with  the  Group’s  accounting  policies.  All  intra-group 
assets  and  liabilities,  equity,  income,  expenses  and  cash  flows  relating  to  transactions  between  members  of 
the Group are eliminated in full upon consolidation.

A  change  in  the  ownership  interest  of  a  subsidiary,  without  a  loss  of  control,  is  accounted  for  as  an  equity 
transaction. If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it:

•	
•	
•	
•	
•	
•	
•	

derecognises	the	assets	(including	goodwill)	and	liabilities	of	the	subsidiary;
derecognises	the	carrying	amount	of	any	non-controlling	interests;
derecognises	the	cumulative	translation	differences	recorded	in	equity;
recognises	the	fair	value	of	the	consideration	received;
recognises	the	fair	value	of	any	investment	retained;
recognises	any	surplus	or	deficit	in	profit	or	loss;	and
reclassifies	 the	 Group’s	 share	 of	 components	 previously	 recognised	 in	 OCI	 to	 profit	 or	 loss	 or	
retained earnings, as appropriate, as if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or 
liabilities.

115

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.2  Consolidation (continued)

The  Group  uses  the  acquisition  method  of  accounting  to  account  for  business  combinations.  The 
consideration  transferred  for  the  acquisition  of  a  subsidiary  is  the  fair  value  of  the  assets  transferred,  the 
liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the 
fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition-related 
costs  are  expensed  as  incurred.  Identifiable  assets  acquired  and  liabilities  and  contingent  liabilities  assumed 
in a business combination are measured initially at their fair value at the acquisition date. On an acquisition-
by-acquisition basis, the Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or 
at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets.

The excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred, the fair value of any non-controlling interest in 
the acquiree, and the fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date over the 
fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. If this is less 
than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the Group 
re-assesses  whether  it  has  correctly  identified  all  of  the  assets  acquired  and  all  of  the  liabilities  assumed, 
and reviews the procedures used to measure the amounts to be recognised at the acquisition date. If the re-
assessment  still  results  in  an  excess  of  the  fair  value  of  net  assets  acquired  over  the  aggregate  consideration 
transferred,  then  the  gain  is  recognised  in  profit  or  loss.  Goodwill  is  tested  annually  for  impairment  and 
carried  at  cost  less  accumulated  impairment  losses.  If  there  is  any  indication  that  goodwill  is  impaired, 
recoverable  amount  is  estimated  and  the  difference  between  carrying  amount  and  recoverable  amount  is 
recognised as an impairment charge. Impairment losses on goodwill are not reversed in subsequent periods. 
Gains or losses on the disposal of an entity take into consideration the carrying amount of goodwill relating 
to the entity sold.

The  investments  in  subsidiaries  are  accounted  for  only  in  the  Company’s  statement  of  financial  position 
at  cost  less  impairment.  Cost  is  adjusted  to  reflect  changes  in  consideration  arising  from  contingent 
consideration  amendments.  Cost  also  includes  direct  attributable  costs  of  investment.  The  results  of 
subsidiaries are accounted for by the Company on the basis of dividends received and receivable.

Transactions with non-controlling interests
The Group treats transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result in loss of controls as equity 
transactions. For shares purchased from non-controlling interests, the difference between any consideration 
paid and the relevant share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded in equity. 
Gains or losses on disposal of shares to non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.

When  the  Group  ceases  to  have  control  or  significant  influence,  any  retained  interest  in  the  entity  is  re-
measured  to  its  fair  value,  with  the  change  in  carrying  amount  recognised  in  profit  or  loss.  The  fair  value 
is  the  initial  carrying  amount  for  the  purposes  of  subsequently  accounting  for  the  retained  interest  as  an 
associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously recognised in OCI in respect 
of that entity are accounted for as if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. This 
may mean that amounts previously recognised in OCI are reclassified to profit or loss.

If the ownership interest in an associate is reduced but significant influence is retained, only a proportionate 
share of the amounts previously recognised in OCI is reclassified to profit or loss as appropriate.

116

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.3  Associates and joint ventures

Associates  are  entities  over  which  the  Group  has  significant  influence,  generally  accompanying  a 
shareholding  of  between  20%  and  50%  of  the  voting  rights  of  the  investee.  Significant  influence  is  the 
power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, but is not control or joint 
control over those policies.

Joint  ventures  are  the  type  of  joint  arrangements  whereby  the  parties  that  have  joint  control  of  the 
arrangement  have  rights  to  the  net  assets  of  the  joint  venture.  Joint  control  is  the  contractually  agreed 
sharing of control of an arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require 
unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.

Investments in associates and joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are 
initially recognised at cost.

The  Group’s  share  of  post-acquisition  profit  or  loss  of  its  associates  and  joint  ventures  is  recognised  in  net 
profit,  and  its  share  of  post-acquisition  movements  in  OCI  is  recognised  in  the  consolidated  statement 
of  comprehensive  income.  The  cumulative  post-acquisition  movements  are  adjusted  against  the  carrying 
amount  of  the  investment.  When  the  Group’s  share  of  losses  in  an  associate  or  joint  venture  equals  or 
exceeds  its  interest  in  the  associate  or  joint  venture,  including  any  other  unsecured  receivables,  the  Group 
does  not  recognise  further  losses  unless  it  has  obligations  to  make  payments  on  behalf  of  the  associate  or 
joint venture.

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

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 associates or joint ventures at the date of acquisition. Goodwill on acquisitions 
of  associates  and  joint  ventures  is  included  in  investments  in  associates  and  joint  ventures  and  is  tested 
annually  for  impairment  as  part  of  the  overall  balance.  Impairment  losses  on  goodwill  are  not  reversed. 
Gains or losses on the disposal of an entity take into consideration the carrying amount of goodwill relating 
to the entity sold.

The Group determines at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence that the investments in 
associates and joint ventures are impaired. If this is the case, an impairment loss is recognised for the amount 
by  which  the  investment’s  carrying  amount  exceeds  its  recoverable  amount.  The  recoverable  amount  is  the 
higher of the investment’s fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. The impairment of investments in 
the associates and joint ventures is reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

The  investments  in  associates  and  joint  ventures  are  stated  at  cost  less  impairment  in  the  Company’s 
statement  of  financial  position.  The  results  of  associates  and  joint  ventures  are  accounted  for  by  the 
Company on the basis of dividends received and receivable.

117

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.4  Segment reporting

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

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

2.5  Foreign currency translation

Except  for  China  Life  Franklin  Asset  Management  Company  Limited  (“AMC  HK”)  (Note  39(c)),  the 
functional  currency  of  the  Group  is  RMB.  The  reporting  currency  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements 
of  the  Group  is  RMB.  Transactions  in  foreign  currencies  are  translated  at  the  exchange  rates  ruling  at  the 
transaction  dates.  Monetary  assets  and  liabilities  denominated  in  foreign  currencies  are  translated  at  the 
exchange  rates  ruling  at  the  end  of  the  reporting  period.  Exchange  differences  arising  in  these  cases  are 
recognised in net profit.

2.6  Property, plant and equipment

Property,  plant  and  equipment,  are  stated  at  historical  costs  less  accumulated  depreciation  and  any 
accumulated impairment losses, except for those acquired prior to 30 June 2003, which are stated at deemed 
cost less accumulated depreciation 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.  Expenditure  incurred  after  terms  of  property,  plant 
and  equipment  have  been  put  into  operation,  such  as  repairs  and  maintenance,  is  normally  charged  to  the 
statement of comprehensive income in the period in which it is incurred. In situations where the recognition 
criteria are satisfied, the expenditure for a major inspection is capitalised in the carrying amount of the assets 
as  a  replacement.  Where  significant  parts  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  required  to  be  replaced  at 
intervals, the Group recognises such parts as individual assets with specific useful lives and depreciates them 
accordingly.

118

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.6  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

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 lives as follows:

Buildings 
Office equipment, furniture and fixtures 
Motor vehicles 
Leasehold improvements 

Estimated useful lives

15 to 35 years
5 to 11 years
4 to 8 years
Over the shorter of the remaining term of
the lease and the useful lives

The  residual  values,  depreciation  method  and  useful  lives  are  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.

Assets  under  construction  mainly  represent  buildings  under  construction,  which  are  stated  at  cost  less  any 
impairment losses and are not depreciated, except for those acquired prior to 30 June 2003, which are stated 
at  deemed  cost  less  any  accumulated  impairment  losses.  Cost  comprises  the  direct  costs  of  construction 
and  capitalised  borrowing  costs  on  related  borrowed  funds  during  the  period  of  construction.  Assets  under 
construction  are  reclassified  to  the  appropriate  category  of  property,  plant  and  equipment,  investment 
properties or other assets when completed and ready for use.

Impairment and gains or losses on disposals
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 recognised in 
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 an item of property, plant and equipment is the difference between the net 
sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant asset, and is recognised in net profit.

119

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.7  Investment properties

Investment  properties  are  interests  in  land  and  buildings  that  are  held  to  earn  rental  income  and/or  for 
capital appreciation, rather than for the supply of services or for administrative purposes.

Investment  properties  are  measured  initially  at  cost,  including  transaction  costs.  Subsequent  to  initial 
recognition, investment properties are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment loss.

Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives 
of investment properties are 15 to 35 years.

Overseas  investment  properties  that  are  held  by  the  Group  in  the  forms  of  property  ownership,  equity 
investment,  or  other  forms,  have  expected  useful  lives  of  50  years,  determined  based  on  the  usage  in  their 
locations.

The useful lives and depreciation method are reviewed periodically to ensure that the method and period of 
depreciation  are  consistent  with  the  expected  pattern  of  economic  benefits  from  the  individual  investment 
properties.

An investment property is derecognised when either it has been disposed of or when the investment property 
is  permanently  withdrawn  from  use  and  no  future  economic  benefit  is  expected  from  its  disposal.  Any 
gains  or  losses  on  the  retirement  or  disposal  of  an  investment  property  are  recognised  in  the  statement  of 
comprehensive income in the year of retirement or disposal. A transfer to, or from, an investment property is 
made when, and only when, there is evidence of a change in use.

2.8  Financial assets

2.8.a  Classification

The  Group  classifies  its  financial  assets  into  the  following  categories:  securities  at  fair  value  through  profit 
or  loss,  held-to-maturity  securities,  loans  and  receivables  and  available-for-sale  securities.  Management 
determines  the  classification  of  its  financial  assets  at  initial  recognition  which  depends  on  the  purpose  for 
which the assets are acquired. The Group’s investments in securities fall into the following four categories:

(i) 

Securities at fair value through profit or loss
This  category  has  two  sub-categories:  securities  held  for  trading  and  those  designated  at  fair  value 
through profit or loss at inception. Securities are classified as held for trading at inception if acquired 
principally for the purpose of selling in the short term or if they form part of a portfolio of financial 
assets  in  which  there  is  evidence  of  short  term  profit-taking.  The  Group  may  classify  other  financial 
assets as at fair value through profit or loss if they meet the criteria in IAS 39 and designated as such at 
inception.

(ii)  Held-to-maturity securities

Held-to-maturity  securities  are  non-derivative  financial  assets  with  fixed  or  determinable  payments 
and  fixed  maturities  that  the  Group  has  the  positive  intention  and  ability  to  hold  to  maturity  and 
do  not  meet  the  definition  of  loans  and  receivables  nor  designated  as  available-for-sale  securities  or 
securities at fair value through profit or loss.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.8  Financial assets (continued)

2.8.a  Classification (continued)

(iii)  Loans and receivables

Loans  and  receivables  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  held  as  available-for-sale.  Loans  and  receivables  mainly  comprise  term  deposits,  loans,  securities 
purchased  under  agreements  to  resell,  accrued  investment  income  and  premium  receivables  as 
presented separately in the statement of financial position.

(iv)  Available-for-sale securities

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

2.8.b Recognition and measurement

Purchase  and  sale  of  investments  are  recognised  on  the  trade  date,  when  the  Group  commits  to  purchase 
or  sell  assets.  Investments  are  initially  recognised  at  fair  value  plus,  in  the  case  of  all  financial  assets  not 
carried at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition. 
Investments  are  derecognised  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.

Securities at fair value through profit or loss and available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value. Equity 
investments  that  do  not  have  a  quoted  price  in  an  active  market  and  whose  fair  value  cannot  be  reliably 
measured  are  carried  at  cost,  net  of  allowance  for  impairments.  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 profit or loss category, and the change of fair 
value of available-for-sale debt securities due to foreign exchange impact on the amortised cost are included 
in  net  profit  in  the  period  in  which  they  arise.  The  remaining  unrealised  gains  and  losses  arising  from 
changes  in  the  fair  value  of  available-for-sale  securities  are  recognised  in  OCI.  When  securities  classified  as 
available-for-sale securities are sold or impaired, the accumulated fair value adjustments are included in net 
profit as realised gains on financial assets.

Term deposits primarily represent traditional bank deposits which have fixed maturity dates and are stated at 
amortised cost.

Loans are carried at amortised cost, net of allowance for impairment.

The  Group  purchases  securities  under  agreements  to  resell  substantially  identical  securities.  These 
agreements  are  classified  as  secured  loans  and  are  recorded  at  amortised  cost,  i.e.  their  costs  plus  accrued 
interests  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.  Sale  or  transfer  of  the 
securities  is  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.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.8  Financial assets (continued)

2.8.c  Impairment of financial assets other than securities at fair value through profit or loss

Financial  assets  other  than  those  accounted  for  as  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  are  adjusted  for 
impairment, where there are declines in value that are considered to be impairment. In evaluating whether a 
decline in value is an impairment for these financial assets, the Group considers several factors including, but 
not limited to, the following:

•	
•	
•	

•	

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	 into	 bankruptcy	 or	 other	 financial	
reorganisation; and
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. The quantitative factors include the following:

•	
•	

•	

the	market	price	of	the	equity	securities	was	more	than	50%	below	their	cost	at	the	reporting	date;
the	market	price	of	the	equity	securities	was	more	than	20%	below	their	cost	for	a	period	of	at	least	six	
months at the reporting date; and
the	 market	 price	 of	 the	 equity	 securities	 was	 below	 their	 cost	 for	 a	 period	 of	 more	 than	 one	 year	
(including one year) at the reporting date.

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 on financial assets in the period the impairment is recognised. The impairment 
loss is reversed through 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  recognised  through 
net  profit.  The  impairment  losses  recognised  in  net  profit  on  equity  instruments  are  not  reversed  through 
net profit.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.9  Fair value measurement

The  Group  measures  financial  instruments,  such  as  securities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  and 
available-for-sale securities, at fair value at each reporting date. Fair value is the price that would be received 
to  sell  an  asset  or  paid  to  transfer  a  liability  in  an  orderly  transaction  between  market  participants  at  the 
measurement date. The fair value measurement of assets and liabilities is based on the presumption that the 
transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place either:

•	
•	

in	the	principal	market	for	the	asset	or	liability,	or
in	the	absence	of	a	principal	market,	in	the	most	advantageous	market	for	the	asset	or	liability.

The principal or the most advantageous market must be accessible to by the Group at the measurement date.

The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use 
when pricing the asset or liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest.

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate 
economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant 
that would use the asset in its highest and best use.

The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient datas 
are available to measure fair value, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use 
of unobservable inputs.

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the consolidated financial statements 
are categorised within the fair value hierarchy, described in Notes 4.3, 7, 10 and 39(b) based on the lowest 
level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole.

For assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether 
transfers  have  occurred  between  each  level  in  the  hierarchy  by  re-assessing  categorisation  (based  on  the 
lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting 
period.

2.10 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.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.11 Insurance contracts and investment contracts

2.11.1 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  contracts.  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  discretionary  participating  feature  (“DPF”).  This  feature  entitles  the 
policyholders  to  receive  additional  benefits  or  bonuses  that  are,  at  least  in  part,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
Group.

2.11.2 Insurance contracts

2.11.2.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. 
Reserves  for  short  duration  insurance  products  consist  of  unearned  premium  reserve  and  expected 
claims  and  claim  adjustment  expenses  reserve.  Actual  claims  and  claim  adjustment  expenses  are 
charged to net profit as incurred.

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 considers the nature and distribution of the risks, claims cost development, and experiences in 
deriving the reasonable estimated amount and the applicable margins. The methods used for reported 
and  unreported  claims  include  the  case-by-case  estimation  method,  average  cost  per  claim  method, 
chain ladder method, etc. The Group calculates the reserves for claim expenses based on the reasonable 
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 
annuity  policies  with  significant  life  contingency  risk.  Premiums  are  recognised  as  revenue  when  due 
from policyholders.

The  Group  uses  the  discounted  cash  flow  method  to  estimate  the  reserve  of  long-term  insurance 
contracts.  The  reserve  of  long-term  insurance  contracts  consists  of  a  reasonable  estimate  of  liability, 
a  risk  margin  and  a  residual  margin.  The  long-term  insurance  contract  liabilities  are  calculated  using 
various  assumptions,  including  assumptions  on  mortality  rates,  morbidity  rates,  lapse  rates,  discount 
rates, and expenses assumption, and based on the following principles:

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.11 Insurance contracts and investment contracts (continued)

2.11.2 Insurance contracts (continued)

2.11.2.a Recognition and measurement (continued)

(ii) 

Long-term insurance contracts (continued)
(a)  The  reasonable  estimate  of  liability  for  long-term  insurance  contracts  is  the  present  value  of 
reasonable  estimates  of  future  cash  outflows  less  future  cash  inflows.  The  expected  future  cash 
inflows  include  cash  inflows  of  future  premiums  arising  from  the  undertaking  of  insurance 
obligations,  with  consideration  of  decrement  mostly  from  death  and  surrenders.  The  expected 
future cash outflows are cash outflows incurred to fulfil contractual obligations, consisting of the 
following:

•	

•	

•	

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

additional	non-guaranteed	benefits,	such	as	policyholder	dividends;

reasonable	 expenses	 incurred	 to	 manage	 insurance	 contracts	 or	 to	 process	 claims,	
including  maintenance  expenses  and  claim  settlement  expenses.  Future  administration 
expenses  are  included  in  the  maintenance  expenses.  Expenses  are  determined  based 
on  expense  analysis  with  consideration  of  future  inflation  and  the  Group’s  expense 
management control.

On each reporting date, the Group reviews the assumptions for reasonable estimates of liability 
and  risk  margins,  with  consideration  of  all  available  information,  taking  into  account  the 
Group’s  historical  experience  and  expectation  of  future  events.  Changes  in  assumptions  are 
recognised  in  net  profit.  Assumptions  for  the  amortization  of  residual  margin  are  locked  in  at 
policy issuance and are not adjusted at each reporting date.

(b)  Margin  has  been  taken  into  consideration  while  computing  the  reserve  of  insurance  contracts, 
measured separately and recognised in net profit in each period over the life of the contracts. At 
the inception of the contracts, the Group does not recognise Day 1 gain, whereas on the other 
hand, Day 1 loss is recognised in net profit immediately.

Margin  comprises  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  costs,  mainly 
consist  of  underwriting  and  policy  acquisition  costs,  by  the  Group  representing  Day  1  gain 
and  will  be  amortised  over  the  life  of  the  contracts.  For  insurance  contracts  of  which  future 
returns  are  affected  by  investment  yields  of  corresponding  investment  portfolios,  their  related 
residual  margins  are  amortised  based  on  estimated  future  participating  dividends  payable  to 
policyholders.  For  insurance  contracts  of  which  future  returns  are  not  affected  by  investment 
yields of corresponding investment portfolios, their related residual margins are amortised based 
on sum assured of outstanding policies. The subsequent measurement of the residual margin is 
independent from the reasonable estimate of future discounted cash flows and risk margin. The 
assumption changes have no effect on the subsequent measurement of the residual margin.

125

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.11 Insurance contracts and investment contracts (continued)

2.11.2 Insurance contracts (continued)

2.11.2.a Recognition and measurement (continued)

(ii) 

Long-term insurance contracts (continued)
(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:

•	
•	

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  2.11.3),  which  are  stated  in  the 
investment contract liabilities.

2.11.2.b Liability adequacy test

The  Group  assesses  the  adequacy  of  insurance  contract  reserves  using  the  current  estimate  of  future  cash 
flows  with  available  information  at  the  end  of  each  reporting  period.  If  that  assessment  shows  that  the 
carrying amount of its insurance liabilities (less related intangible assets, if applicable) is inadequate in light 
of  the  estimated  future  cash  flows,  the  insurance  contract  reserves  will  be  adjusted  accordingly,  and  any 
changes of the insurance contract liabilities will be recognised in net profit.

2.11.2.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  recognised  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 recognised as expenses 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 recognises that impairment loss in net profit.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.11 Insurance contracts and investment contracts (continued)

2.11.3 Investment contracts

Revenue from investment contracts with or without DPF is recognised as policy fee income, which consists 
of  various  fee  incomes  (policy  fees,  handling  fees  and  management  fees,  etc.)  during  the  period.  Policy  fee 
income  net  of  acquisition  cost  is  deferred  as  unearned  revenue  and  amortised  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.

2.11.4 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  the  higher  of  70%  of  accumulated  surplus  available  and  the  rate  specified  in  the 
contracts. The accumulated surplus available mainly arises from net investment income and gains and losses 
arising  from  the  assets  supporting  these  contracts.  To  the  extent  unrealised  gains  or  losses  from  available-
for-sale securities are attributable to policyholders, shadow adjustments are recognised in OCI. The surplus 
owed  to  policyholders  is  recognised  as  policyholder  dividend  payable  whether  it  is  declared  or  not.  The 
amount and timing of distribution to individual policyholders of participating contracts are subject to future 
declarations by the Group.

2.12 Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Financial  liabilities  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  are  the  portions  owned  by  the  external  investors  in 
the  consolidated  structured  entities  (open-ended  funds  and  trust  schemes).  Such  financial  liabilities  are 
designated at fair value upon initial recognition, and all realised or unrealised gains or losses are recognised 
in net profit.

2.13 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

The  Group  retains  substantially  all  the  risk  and  rewards  of  ownership  of  securities  sold  under  agreements 
to  repurchase  which  generally  mature  within  180  days  from  the  transaction  date.  Therefore  securities  sold 
under agreements to repurchase are classified as secured borrowings. 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.

2.14 Bonds payable

Bonds payable primarily include subordinated debts. Subordinated debts are initially recognised at fair value 
and  subsequently  measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest  rate  method.  Amortised  cost  is 
calculated by taking into account any discount or premium at acquisition and transaction costs.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.15 Derivative instruments

Derivatives are initially recognised 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 recognised in net profit. Fair values are obtained from quoted market prices in active market, taking into 
consideration of recent market transactions or valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models 
and options pricing models, as appropriate. 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  derivatives  that  are 
closely relate to host insurance contracts including embedded options to surrender insurance contracts for a 
fixed amount (or an amount based on a fixed amount and an interest rate).

2.16 Employee benefits

Pension benefits
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  formulae.  These  government  agencies 
are  responsible  for  the  pension  liability  to  these  employees  upon  retirement.  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 fund pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, whereby the 
Group is 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. Fair value changes in the vesting period is included in administrative 
expenses and changes after vesting period is included in net fair value gains/(losses) through profit or loss in 
net profit. The related liability is included in other liabilities.

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For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.17 Share capital

Ordinary  shares  are  classified  as  equity.  Incremental  costs  directly  attributable  to  the  issue  of  equity 
instruments are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.

2.18 Other equity instruments

Other equity instruments are Core Tier 2 Capital Securities issued by the Group. These securities contain no 
contractual  obligation  to  deliver  cash  or  another  financial  asset;  or  to  exchange  financial  assets  or  financial 
liabilities  with  another  entity  under  conditions  that  are  potentially  unfavorable  to  the  Group;  or  to  be 
settled in the Group’s own equity instruments. Therefore the Group classifies these securities as other equity 
instruments.  Fees,  commissions  and  other  transaction  costs  of  these  securities’  issuance  are  deducted  from 
equity. The distributions of the Securities are recognised as profit distribution at the time of declaration.

2.19 Revenue recognition

Turnover of the Group represents the total revenues which include the following:

Premiums
Premiums from long-term insurance contracts are recognised 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.

Policy fee income
Revenue from investment contracts is recognised as policy fee income, which consists of various fee incomes 
(policy fees, handling fees and management fees, etc.) over the period of which service is provided. Policy fee 
income net of certain acquisition costs is deferred as unearned revenue and amortised over the expected life 
of the contracts. Policy fee income is recognised in revenue as part of other income.

Investment income
Investment income comprises 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 
recognised when the right to receive dividend payment is established.

2.20 Finance costs

Interest  expenses  for  bonds  payable,  securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase  and  interest-bearing 
loans  and  borrowings  are  recognised  within  finance  costs  in  net  profit  using  the  effective  interest  rate 
method.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.21 Current and deferred income taxation

Income tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in net profit, 
except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in OCI where the income tax is recognised in 
OCI.

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

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

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

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the 
extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the 
deferred tax asset to be utilised. Conversely, previously unrecognised deferred tax assets are reassessed by the 
end of each reporting period and are recognised to the extent that it is probable that sufficient taxable profit 
will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be utilised.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when 
the  asset  is  realised  or  the  liability  is  settled,  based  on  tax  rates  (and  tax  laws)  that  have  been  enacted  or 
substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period.

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset, if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current 
tax assets against current tax liabilities and the deferred taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same 
taxation authority.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

2 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

2.22 Operating leases

Leases  where  substantially  all  the  risks  and  rewards  of  ownership  of  assets  remain  with  the  lessor  company 
are accounted for as operating leases.

Where the Group is the lessor, assets leased by the Group under operating leases are included in investment 
properties  and  rentals  receivable  under  such  operating  leases  are  credited  to  the  consolidated  statement  of 
comprehensive income on the straight-line basis over the lease terms.

Where  the  Group  is  the  lessee,  rentals  payable  under  operating  leases  are  charged  to  the  consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income on the straight-line basis over the lease terms. The aggregate benefit of 
incentives provided by the lessor is recognised as a reduction in rental expenses over the lease terms on the 
straight-line basis.

2.23 Provisions and contingencies

Provisions  are  recognised  when  the  Group  has  a  present  legal  or  constructive  obligation  as  a  result  of  past 
events; it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; and the amount 
has been reliably estimated. Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses.

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 recognised 
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 recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position but is disclosed in 
the notes to the consolidated financial statements. When a change in the probability of an outflow occurs so 
that such outflow is probable and can be reliably measured, it will then be recognised as a provision.

2.24 Dividend distribution

Dividend  distribution  to  the  Company’s  equity  holders  is  recognised  as  a  liability  in  the  Group’s 
consolidated financial statements in the year in which the dividends are approved by the Company’s equity 
holders.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

3  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

The  Group  makes  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities.  Estimates 
and  judgements  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.  The  Group  exercises 
significant judgement in making appropriate assumptions.

Areas  susceptible  to  changes  in  critical  estimates  and  judgements,  which  affect  the  carrying  value  of  assets  and 
liabilities, are set out below. It is possible that actual results may be different from the estimates and judgements 
referred to below.

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 margins. Assumptions about 
mortality rates, morbidity rates, lapse rates, discount rates, 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 benefit payments, premiums and relevant expenses, is reflected in the risk margin.

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

The  judgements  exercised  in  the  valuation  of  insurance  contract  liabilities  (including  contracts  with  DPF) 
affect  the  amounts  recognised  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  as  insurance  contract  benefits  and 
insurance contract liabilities.

The impact of the various assumptions and their changes are described in Note 14.

3.2  Investments

The  Group’s  principal  financial  instruments  are  debt  securities,  equity  securities,  term  deposits  and  loans. 
The  critical  estimates  and  judgements  are  those  associated  with  the  recognition  of  impairment  and  the 
measurement of fair value.

The Group considers a wide range of factors in the impairment assessment as described in Note 2.8.c.

Fair  value  is  the  price  that  would  be  received  to  sell  an  asset  or  paid  to  transfer  a  liability  in  an  orderly 
transaction  between  market  participants  at  the  measurement  date.  When  the  fair  values  of  financial  assets 
and  liabilities  recorded  in  the  consolidated  statement  of  financial  position  cannot  be  measured  based  on 
quoted  prices  in  active  markets,  their  fair  value  is  measured  using  valuation  techniques  which  require  a 
degree  of  consideration.  The  methods  and  assumptions  used  by  the  Group  in  measuring  the  fair  value  of 
financial instruments are as follows:

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

3  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (continued)

3.2  Investments (continued)

•	

•	

•	

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 or 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  models.  Equity  securities,  for  which  fair  values  cannot  be  measured 
reliably, are recognised at cost less impairment.

term	deposits	and	loans:	the	carrying	amounts	of	these	assets	in	the	consolidated	statement	of	financial	
position approximate fair value.

For  the  description  of  valuation  techniques,  please  refer  to  Note  4.3.  Using  different  valuation  techniques 
and parameter assumptions may lead to some differences of fair value estimations.

3.3  Impairment of investments in associates and joint ventures

The  Group  assesses  whether  there  are  any  indicators  of  impairment  for  investments  in  associates  and  joint 
ventures  at  the  end  of  each  reporting  period.  Investments  in  associates  and  joint  ventures  are  tested  for 
impairment  when  there  are  indicators  that  the  carrying  amounts  may  not  be  recoverable.  An  impairment 
exists when the carrying value of investments in associates and joint ventures exceeds its recoverable amount, 
which is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use. The calculation of the fair value 
less costs of disposal is based on available data from binding sales transactions in an arm’s length transaction 
of similar assets or observable market prices less incremental costs for disposing of investments in associates 
and  joint  ventures.  When  value  in  use  calculations  are  undertaken,  the  Group  must  estimate  the  expected 
future  cash  flows  from  investments  in  associates  and  joint  ventures  and  choose  a  suitable  discount  rate  in 
order to calculate the present value of those cash flows. Further details are given in Note 8.

3.4  Income tax

The Group is subject to income tax in numerous jurisdictions. During the normal course of business, certain 
transactions and activities for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain, the Group needs to exercise 
significant judgement when determining the income tax. If the final settlement results of the tax matters are 
different from the amounts recorded, these differences will impact the final income tax expense and deferred 
tax for the period.

133

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

3  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (continued)

3.5  Determination of control over investee

The  Group  applies  its  judgment  to  determine  whether  the  control  indicators  set  out  in  Note  2.2  indicate 
that the Group controls structured entities such as funds and asset management products.

The Group sponsors certain structured entities (e.g. funds), and acts as a manager for such entities according 
to the contracts. In addition, the Group may be exposed to variability of returns as a result of holding shares 
of  the  structured  entities.  Determining  whether  the  Group  controls  such  structured  entities  usually  focuses 
on  the  assessment  of  the  aggregate  economic  interests  of  the  Group  in  the  entities  (including  any  carried 
interests  and  expected  management  fees)  and  the  decision-making  rights  on  the  entity.  As  at  31  December 
2015,  the  Group  has  consolidated  some  fund  products  issued  and  managed  by  the  Company’s  subsidiary, 
China Life AMP Asset Management Company (“CL AMP”), and some trust schemes issued and managed by 
third parties in the consolidated financial statements. Please refer to Note 39(c) for the details.

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk management is carried out by the Company’s Risk Management Committee under policies approved by the 
Company’s 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 the 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 
the pricing and provisioning, the principal risk that the Group faces under its insurance contracts is that the 
actual claims and benefit payments are less favourable than the underlying assumptions used in establishing 
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  of  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 types of insurance risks accepted and within each of these categories to 
achieve a sufficiently large population to reduce the variability of the expected outcome. The Group manages 
insurance risk through underwriting strategies, 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.  Reinsurance  contracts  cover  almost  all  products, 
which  contain  risk  liabilities.  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  reinsurance  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 the credit risk associated with the failure of reinsurance companies to fulfil their responsibilities.

134

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.2 Concentration of insurance risks

All  insurance  operations  of  the  Group  are  located  in  the  PRC.  There  are  no  significant  differences  among 
the regions where the Group underwrites insurance contracts.

The table below presents the Group’s major products of long-term insurance contracts:

Product name 

2015 

2014

RMB million 

% 

RMB million 

%

Premiums of long-term insurance contracts
New Xin Feng Endowment (Type A) (a) 
Xin Annuity (b) 
Kang Ning Whole Life (c) 
Fu Lu Shuang Xi Participating Endowment (d) 
Hong Fu Participating Endowment (e) 
Others (f) 

38,314 
35,606 
23,508 
22,265 
63 
211,826 

11.55% 
10.74% 
7.09% 
6.71% 
0.02% 
63.89% 

62,635 
2,171 
24,623 
29,749 
149 
185,350 

20.56%
0.71%
8.08%
9.76%
0.05%
60.84%

Total 

331,582 

100.00% 

304,677 

100.00%

Insurance benefits of long-term

insurance contracts

New Xin Feng Endowment (Type A) (a) 
Xin Annuity (b) 
Kang Ning Whole Life (c) 
Fu Lu Shuang Xi Participating Endowment (d) 
Hong Fu Participating Endowment (e) 
Others (f) 

80 
13 
3,692 
3,136 
54,374 
53,982 

0.07% 
0.01% 
3.20% 
2.72% 
47.17% 
46.83% 

56 
– 
3,556 
2,367 
10,255 
78,944 

0.06%
–
3.74%
2.49%
10.77%
82.94%

Total 

115,277 

100.00% 

95,178 

100.00%

As at 31 December 2015 

As at 31 December 2014

RMB million 

% 

RMB million 

%

Liabilities of long-term insurance contracts
New Xin Feng Endowment (Type A) (a) 
Xin Annuity (b) 
Kang Ning Whole Life (c) 
Fu Lu Shuang Xi Participating Endowment (d) 
Hong Fu Participating Endowment (e) 
Others (f) 

43,788 
38,917 
214,120 
93,267 
37,810 
1,270,871 

2.58% 
2.29% 
12.60% 
5.49% 
2.23% 
74.81% 

63,701 
2,184 
191,865 
75,857 
92,985 
1,162,308 

4.01%
0.14%
12.08%
4.77%
5.85%
73.15%

Total 

1,698,773 

100.00% 

1,588,900 

100.00%

135

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.2 Concentration of insurance risks (continued)

(a)  New  Xin  Feng  is  an  endowment  insurance  contract  with  single  premium.  Its  insured  period  is  5 
years. This product is applicable to healthy policyholders between 18-year-old and 70-year-old. Both 
maturity and death benefits are paid at the basic sum insured. Accident death benefit is paid at 300% 
of the basic sum insured.

(b)  Xin Annuity is an annuity insurance contract with single premium. Its insured period is 10 years. This 
product  is  applicable  to  healthy  policyholders  between  28-day-old  and  65-year-old.  Annuity  is  paid 
at  the  basic  sum  insured.  Maturity  benefit  is  paid  at  the  premium  received  (without  interest).  Death 
benefit is paid at the premium received (without interest) or the cash value of the insurance contract, 
whichever greater.

(c)  Kang Ning is a whole life insurance contract with the options for single premium or regular premium 
of  10  years  or  20  years.  This  product  is  applicable  to  healthy  policyholders  under  70-year-old.  The 
critical illness benefit is paid at 200% of the basic sum insured. Both death and disability benefits are 
paid at 300% of the basic sum insured less any critical illness benefits paid.

(d)  Fu Lu Shuang Xi is an endowment insurance contract with the options for regular premium of 3 years, 
5  years  or  10  years.  The  premium  shall  be  paid  annually,  semiannually,  quarterly  or  monthly.  Its 
insured period extends from the effective date of the insurance contract to the corresponding date of 
the year when the policyholders turn 75-year-old. This product is applicable to healthy policyholders 
between  30-day-old  and  60-year-old.  Starting  from  the  effective  date  of  the  insurance  contract,  the 
survival  benefit  is  paid  every  two  policy  years  on  the  corresponding  date  at  10%  of  the  basic  sum 
insured;  the  disease  death  benefit  and  maturity  benefit  are  paid  at  the  contractual  amount  of  disease 
death benefit and maturity benefit.

(e)  Hong  Fu  is  a  participating  endowment  insurance  contract  with  the  options  for  single  premium  or 
regular  premium  of  3  years.  Its  insured  period  can  be  6  years  or  9  years.  This  product  is  applicable 
to  healthy  policyholders  between  30-day-old  and  60-year-old.  Maturity  benefit  of  a  single  premium 
policy is paid at the basic sum insured, while that of a regular premium policy is paid at the basic sum 
insured  multiplied  by  the  number  of  years  of  the  premium  payments.  Disease  death  benefit  incurred 
within  the  first  policy  year  is  paid  at  the  premium  received  (without  interest).  Disease  death  benefit 
incurred after the first policy year is paid at the basic sum insured for a single premium policy or the 
basic  sum  insured  multiplied  by  the  number  of  years  of  premium  payments  for  a  regular  premium 
policy. Accident death benefit is paid at 300% of the basic sum insured for a single premium policy or 
300% of the basic sum insured multiplied by the number of years of premium payments for a regular 
premium policy.

(f)  Others consist of various long-term insurance contracts with no significant concentration.

136

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.3 Sensitivity analysis

Sensitivity analysis of long-term insurance contracts
Liabilities for long-term insurance contracts and 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.  Changes  in  insurance  contract  reserve  assumptions 
reflect the Company’s actual operating results and changes in its expectation of future events. The Company 
considers the potential impact of future risk factors on its operating results and incorporates such potential 
impact in the determination of assumptions.

Holding  all  other  variables  constant,  if  mortality  rates  and  morbidity  rates  were  to  increase  or  decrease 
from  the  current  best  estimate  by  10%,  pre-tax  profit  for  the  year  would  have  been  RMB14,597  million 
or  RMB15,253  million  (as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB12,971  million  or  RMB13,554  million)  lower  or 
higher, respectively.

Holding all other variables constant, if lapse rates were to increase or decrease from the current best estimate 
by  10%,  pre-tax  profit  for  the  year  would  have  been  RMB4,032  million  or  RMB4,229  million  (as  at  31 
December 2014: RMB5,191 million or RMB5,478 million) lower or higher, respectively.

Holding  all  other  variables  constant,  if  the  discount  rates  were  50  basis  points  higher  or  lower  than  the 
current  best  estimate,  pre-tax  profit  for  the  year  would  have  been  RMB45,811  million  or  RMB52,049 
million  (as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB41,300  million  or  RMB46,868  million)  higher  or  lower, 
respectively.

Sensitivity 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  variables  constant,  if  claim  ratios  are  100  basis  points  higher  or  lower  than  the  current 
assumption,  pre-tax  profit  is  expected  to  be  RMB315  million  lower  or  higher,  respectively  (as  at  31 
December 2014: RMB258 million).

137

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.1  Insurance risk (continued)

4.1.3 Sensitivity analysis (continued)

Sensitivity analysis of short-term insurance contracts (continued)
The  following  table  indicates  the  claim  development  for  short-term  insurance  contracts  without  taking 
account of reinsurance impacts:

Estimated claims expenses 

2011 

Short-term insurance contracts (accident year)
2012 

2014 

2013 

2015 

Total

Current year 
1 year later 
2 years later 
3 years later 
4 years later 

Estimated accumulated
  claims expenses 
Accumulated claims
  expenses paid 

8,002 
8,279 
8,090 
8,090 
8,090

8,056 
8,164 
8,123 
8,123

11,476 
11,872 
11,775

16,499 
17,265

20,497

8,090 

8,123 

11,775 

17,265 

20,497 

65,750

(8,090) 

(8,123) 

(11,775) 

(16,145) 

(12,349) 

(56,482)

Unpaid claims expenses 

– 

– 

– 

1,120 

8,148 

9,268

The  following  table  indicates  the  claim  development  for  short-term  insurance  contracts  taking  account  of 
reinsurance impacts:

Estimated claims expenses 

2011 

Short-term insurance contracts (accident year)
2012 

2014 

2013 

2015 

Total

Current year 
1 year later 
2 years later 
3 years later 
4 years later 

Estimated accumulated
  claims expenses 
Accumulated claims
  expenses paid 

7,889 
8,161 
7,977 
7,977 
7,977

7,916 
8,035 
7,997 
7,997

11,331 
11,743 
11,645

16,379 
17,127

20,359

7,977 

7,997 

11,645 

17,127 

20,359 

65,105

(7,977) 

(7,997) 

(11,645) 

(16,013) 

(12,255) 

(55,887)

Unpaid claims expenses 

– 

– 

– 

1,114 

8,104 

9,218

138

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (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 the 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 disclosed in Note 9.

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, 
such as change in interest rate and change in market price.

4.2.1 Market risk

(i) 

Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate 
due  to  changes  in  market  interest  rates.  The  Group’s  financial  assets  are  principally  composed  of 
term  deposits,  debt  securities  and  loans  which  are  exposed  to  interest  rate  risk.  Changes  in  the  level 
of  interest  rates  could  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.

As  at  31  December  2015,  if  market  interest  rates  were  50  basis  points  higher  or  lower  with  all  other 
variables  held  constant,  pre-tax  profit  for  the  year  would  have  been  RMB416  million  (as  at  31 
December 2014: RMB883 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, 
debt securities and loans and the fair value losses or gains on debt securities assets at fair value through 
profit or loss. Pre-tax available-for-sale reserve in equity would have been RMB6,928 million (as at 31 
December 2014: RMB6,675 million) lower or higher respectively, as a result of a decrease or increase 
in the fair value of available-for-sale securities.

139

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (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.

As at 31 December 2015, 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 RMB2,248 million 
(as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB1,054  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.  Pre-tax 
available-for-sale  reserve  in  equity  would  have  been  RMB22,999  million  (as  at  31  December  2014: 
RMB12,881 million) higher or lower, respectively, as a result of an increase or decrease in fair value of 
available-for-sale  equity  securities.  If  prices  decreased  to  the  extent  that  the  impairment  criteria  were 
met,  a  portion  of  such  decrease  of  the  available-for-sale  equity  securities  would  reduce  pre-tax  profit 
through impairment.

(iii)  Currency risk

Currency risk is the volatility of fair value or future cash flows of financial instruments resulted from 
changes  in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates.  The  Group’s  currency  risk  exposure  mainly  arises  from 
cash and cash equivalents, term deposits, debt investments, equity investments and loans denominated 
in currencies other than the functional currency, such as US dollar, HK dollar, GB pound and EUR.

140

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.1 Market risk (continued)

(iii)  Currency risk (continued)

The  following  table  summarises  financial  assets  and  financial  liabilities  denominated  in  currencies 
other than RMB as at 31 December 2015 and 2014, expressed in RMB equivalent:

As at 31 December 2015 

US dollar 

HK dollar 

GB pound 

EUR 

Others 

Total

Financial assets
Equity securities
  – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Securities at fair value 
   through profit or loss 

Debt securities
  – Held-to-maturity securities 
  – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Securities at fair value through

   profit or loss 

Term deposits 
Cash and cash equivalents 

4,715 

8,442 

– 

– 

172 

13,329

3,413 

68 
266 

371 
5,431 
3,743 

70 

– 
– 

– 
– 
636 

1,139 

2,190 

1,056 

7,868

– 
– 

15 
– 
132 

– 
– 

8 
– 
14 

– 
– 

8 
– 
6 

68
266

402
5,431
4,531

Total 

18,007 

9,148 

1,286 

2,212 

1,242 

31,895

Financial liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 

Total 

– 

– 

– 

– 

2,643 

2,643 

– 

– 

– 

– 

As at 31 December 2014 

US dollar 

HK dollar 

GB pound 

Financial assets
Equity securities
  – Available-for-sale securities 
Debt securities
  – Held-to-maturity securities 
  – Available-for-sale securities 
Term deposits 
Cash and cash equivalents 

– 

54 
260 
8,774 
3,662 

8,303 

– 
– 
– 
68 

Total 

12,750 

8,371 

Financial liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 

Total 

– 

– 

– 

– 

141

– 

– 
– 
– 
54 

54 

2,623 

2,623 

2,643

2,643

Total

8,303

54
260
8,774
3,784

21,175

2,623

2,623

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.1 Market risk (continued)

(iii)  Currency risk (continued)

As  at  31  December  2015,  if  RMB  had  strengthened  or  weakened  by  10%  against  US  dollar,  HK 
dollar,  GB  pound,  EUR  and  other  foreign  currencies,  with  all  other  variables  held  constant,  pre-tax 
profit for the year would have been RMB1,592 million (as at 31 December 2014: RMB1,025 million) 
lower  or  higher,  respectively,  mainly  as  a  result  of  foreign  exchange  losses  or  gains  on  translation  of 
US dollar, HK dollar, GB pound, EUR and other foreign currencies denominated financial assets and 
financial liabilities other than the available-for-sale equity securities included in the table above. Pre-
tax available-for-sale reserve in equity would have been RMB1,085 million (as at 31 December 2014: 
RMB830  million)  lower  or  higher,  respectively,  as  a  result  of  foreign  exchange  losses  or  gains  on 
translation  of  the  available-for-sale  equity  securities  at  fair  value.  The  actual  exchange  gains  in  2015 
were RMB812 million (2014: exchange gains of RMB268 million).

4.2.2 Credit risk

Credit  risk  is  the  risk  that  one  party  of  a  financial  transaction  or  the  issuer  of  a  financial  instrument  will 
fail  to  discharge  its  obligation  and  cause  another  party  to  incur  a  financial  loss.  Because  the  Group’s 
investment portfolio is restricted to the types of investments as permitted by the 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  research  and  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 risk exposure
The  carrying  amount  of  financial  assets  included  on  the  consolidated  statement  of  financial  position 
represents the maximum credit risk exposure at the reporting date without taking account of any collateral 
held  or  other  credit  enhancements  attached.  The  Group  has  no  credit  risk  exposure  relating  to  off-balance 
sheet items as at 31 December 2015 and 2014.

Collateral and other credit enhancements
Securities  purchased  under  agreements  to  resell  are  pledged  by  counterparties’  debt  securities  or  term 
deposits  of  which  the  Group  could  take  the  ownership  if  the  owner  of  the  collateral  defaults.  Policy  loans 
and  most  of  premium  receivables  are  collateralised  by  their  policies’  cash  value  according  to  the  terms  and 
conditions of policy loan contracts and policy contracts, respectively.

142

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.2 Credit risk (continued)

Credit quality
The  Group’s  debt  securities  investment  mainly  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 Chinese government controlled financial institutions. As at 31 December 2015, 
98.9% (as at 31 December 2014: 99.1%) of the corporate bonds held by the Group or the issuers of these 
corporate bonds had credit ratings of AA/A-2 or above. As at 31 December 2015, 99.6% (as at 31 December 
2014:  99.6%)  of  the  subordinated  bonds  or  debts  held  by  the  Group  either  have  credit  ratings  of  AA/A-2 
or  above,  or  were  issued  by  national  commercial  banks.  The  bonds,  debts  or  their  issuers’  credit  ratings 
are  assigned  by  a  qualified  appraisal  institution  in  the  PRC  at  the  time  of  its  issuance  and  updated  at  each 
reporting date.

As at 31 December  2015, 99.9% (as at 31 December 2014: 99.7%) 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.  The  Group  believes  these 
commercial banks, and CSDCC have a high credit quality. The Group’s other loans excluding policyholder 
loans,  are  guaranteed  by  third  parties  or  with  pledge,  or  have  the  national  annual  budget  income  as  the 
source of repayment, or have higher credit rating borrowers. As a result, the Group concludes that the credit 
risk  associated  with  term  deposits  and  accrued  investment  income  thereof,  statutory  deposits  –  restricted, 
other  loans,  and  cash  and  cash  equivalents  will  not  cause  a  material  impact  on  the  Group’s  consolidated 
financial statements as at 31 December 2015 and 2014.

The  credit  risk  associated  with  securities  purchased  under  agreements  to  resell,  policy  loans  and  most  of 
premium  receivables  will  not  cause  a  material  impact  on  the  Group’s  consolidated  financial  statements 
taking  into  consideration  their  collateral  held  and  maturity  term  of  no  more  than  one  year  as  at  31 
December 2015 and 2014.

4.2.3 Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group is unable to obtain funds at a reasonable funding cost when required 
to meet a repayment obligation and fund its asset portfolio within a certain time.

In  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  Group  attempts  to  match  the  maturity  of  financial  assets  to  the 
maturity of insurance and financial liabilities.

143

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (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 and 
liabilities and insurance liabilities:

Contractual and expected cash flows (undiscounted)

As at 31 December 2015 

Financial assets

Contractual cash inflows
  Equity securities 
  Debt securities 
  Loans 
  Term deposits 
  Statutory deposits – restricted 
  Securities purchased under
  agreements to resell 
  Accrued investment income 
  Premiums receivable 
  Cash and cash equivalents 

Carrying 
value 

Without 
maturity 

  Later than 1 year  Later than 3 years 
but not later 
 than 5 years 

 but not later  
than 3 years 

Not later  
than 1 year 

411,623 
1,000,958 
207,267 
562,622 
6,333 

21,503 
49,552 
11,913 
76,096 

411,623 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
130,340 
96,901 
190,658 
484 

21,503 
31,218 
11,913 
76,096 

– 
214,106 
48,829 
296,268 
6,404 

– 
18,327 
– 
– 

– 
170,658 
56,003 
128,322 
232 

– 
7 
– 
– 

Later than 
5 years

–
910,196
41,634
–
–

–
–
–
–

Subtotal 

2,347,867 

411,623 

559,113 

583,934 

355,222 

951,830

Financial and insurance liabilities

Expected cash outflows
Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 

Contractual cash outflows
  Securities sold under

  agreements to repurchase 

  Financial liabilities at fair

  value through profit or loss 
  Annuity and other insurance

  balances payable 
Interest-bearing loans and
  borrowings 
  Bonds payable 

(81,630) 
(16,199) 

(44,697) 
(16,207) 

26,347 
(11,334) 

(2,789,186)
(108,091)

1,715,985 
84,106 

31,354 

– 
– 

– 

(31,354) 

856 

(856) 

– 

30,092 

2,643 
67,994 

– 

– 
– 

(30,092) 

(107) 
(33,424) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(214) 
(39,774) 

(2,693) 
– 

–

–

–

–
–

Subtotal 

1,933,030 

(856) 

(192,806) 

(100,892) 

12,320 

(2,897,277)

Net cash inflows/(outflows) 

414,837 

410,767 

366,307 

483,042 

367,542 

(1,945,447)

144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.3 Liquidity risk (continued)

Contractual and expected cash flows (undiscounted)

As at 31 December 2014 

Financial assets

Contractual cash inflows
  Equity securities 
  Debt securities 
  Loans 
  Term deposits 
  Statutory deposits – restricted 
  Securities purchased under 
  agreements to resell 
  Accrued investment income 
  Premiums receivable 
  Cash and cash equivalents 

Carrying 
value 

Without  
maturity 

  Later than 1 year  Later than 3 years 
but not later 
 than 5 years 

 but not later  
than 3 years 

Not later  
than 1 year 

236,030 
941,836 
166,453 
690,156 
6,153 

11,925 
44,350 
11,166 
47,034 

236,030 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
72,234 
85,652 
212,356 
182 

11,925 
31,928 
11,166 
47,034 

– 
186,342 
27,423 
367,662 
2,620 

– 
8,413 
– 
– 

– 
186,285 
44,344 
155,236 
4,434 

– 
4,009 
– 
– 

Later than 
5 years

–
982,202
36,144
26,621
–

–
–
–
–

Subtotal 

2,155,103 

236,030 

472,477 

592,460 

394,308 

1,044,967

Financial and insurance liabilities

Expected cash outflows
Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 

Contractual cash outflows
  Securities sold under

  agreements to repurchase 

  Financial liabilities at fair

  value through profit or loss 
  Annuity and other insurance

  balances payable 
Interest-bearing loans and 
  borrowings 
  Bonds payable 

(60,896) 
(14,703) 

(118,434) 
(15,192) 

(22,634) 
(9,827) 

(2,463,567)
(84,013)

1,603,446 
72,275 

46,089 

– 
– 

– 

(46,089) 

10,890 

(10,890) 

– 

25,617 

2,623 
67,989 

– 

– 
– 

(25,617) 

(106) 
(3,424) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(213) 
(73,198) 

(2,783) 
– 

–

–

–

–
–

Subtotal 

1,828,929 

(10,890) 

(150,835) 

(207,037) 

(35,244) 

(2,547,580)

Net cash inflows/(outflows) 

326,174 

225,140 

321,642 

385,423 

359,064 

(1,502,613)

145

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (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  inflows  from  matured  financial  assets  will 
be  reinvested  to  cover  any  future  liquidity  exposures.  The  estimate  is  subject  to  assumptions  related  to 
mortality, morbidity, lapse rate, loss ratio and expense and other assumptions. Actual experience may differ 
from estimates.

The  liquidity  analysis  above  does  not  include  policyholder  dividends  payable  amounting  to  RMB107,774 
million as at 31 December 2015 (as at 31 December 2014: RMB74,745 million). As at 31 December 2015, 
declared  dividends  of  RMB56,597  million  (as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB44,515  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.

Although  all  investment  contracts  with  DPF  and  investment  contracts  without  DPF  contain  contractual 
options  to  surrender  that  can  be  exercised  immediately  by  all  policyholders  at  any  time,  the  Group’s 
expected  cash  flows  as  shown  in  the  above  tables  are  based  on  past  experience  and  future  expectations. 
Should these contracts were surrendered immediately, it would cause a cash outflow of RMB49,905 million 
and  RMB33,471  million,  respectively  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015  (2014:  RMB47,589  million 
and RMB24,064 million, respectively), payable within one year.

4.2.4 Capital management

The  Group’s  objectives  for  managing  capital,  which  is  actual  capital  calculated  as  the  difference  between 
admitted  assets  (defined  by  the  CIRC)  and  the  admitted  liabilities  (defined  by  the  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  equity 
holders and benefits for other stakeholders.

The  Group  is  also  subject  to  other  local  capital  requirements,  such  as  statutory  deposits  –  restricted 
requirement,  statutory  reserve  fund  requirement,  general  reserve  requirement  and  statutory  insurance  fund 
requirement discussed in detail in Note 9.4, Note 36 and Note 20, respectively.

The  Group  ensures  its  continuous  and  full  compliance  with  the  regulations  mainly  through  monitoring  its 
quarterly and annual solvency ratios, as well as the solvency ratio based on dynamic solvency testing.

146

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.2  Financial risk (continued)

4.2.4 Capital management (continued)

The table below summarises the solvency ratio of the Company, the actual capital held against the minimum 
required capital:

Actual capital 
Minimum capital 
Solvency ratio 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

282,820 
85,676 
330% 

236,151
80,193
294%

According  to  CIRC  Order  [2008]  No.1,  “Solvency  Regulations  of  Insurance  Companies”,  the  solvency 
ratio  is  computed  by  dividing  the  actual  capital  by  the  minimum  capital.  The  CIRC  closely  monitors 
those  insurance  companies  with  a  solvency  ratio  less  than  100%  and  may,  depending  on  the  individual 
circumstances,  undertakes  certain  regulatory  measures,  including  but  not  limited  to  restriction  of  payment 
of dividends. Insurance companies with a solvency ratio between 100% and 150% will be required to submit 
and  implement  plans  preventing  capital  deterioration  to  an  inadequate  level.  Insurance  companies  with  a 
solvency ratio above 100% but with significant solvency risk identified would be required to take necessary 
rectifying actions.

In  addition,  pursuant  to  “Notification  of  Related  Matters  on  Official  Implementation  of  China  Risk  Oriented 
Solvency  System”  released  by  the  CIRC,  insurance  companies  should  implement  “Insurance  Institution 
Solvency  Regulations  (No.1-No.17)”  (“Solvency  II”)  from  1  January  2016.  The  Company  will  compute 
solvency  ratio  in  accordance  with  Solvency  II,  recognising,  assessing  and  managing  variant  risks  starting 
from 1 January 2016.

4.3  Fair value hierarchy

Level  1  fair  value  is  based  on  quoted  prices  (unadjusted)  in  active  markets  for  identical  assets  or  liabilities 
that the entity can obtain at the measurement date.

Other  than  Level  1  quoted  prices,  Level  2  fair  value  is  based  on  valuation  techniques  using  significant 
inputs,  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.  This  level  includes  the  debt  securities  for  which  quotations  are  available  from 
pricing  services  providers.  Fair  values  provided  by  pricing  services  providers  are  subject  to  a  number  of 
validation  procedures  by  management.  These  procedures  include  a  review  of  the  valuation  models  utilised 
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.

147

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.3  Fair value hierarchy (continued)

Under  certain  conditions,  the  Group  may  not  receive  price  quote  from  independent  third  party  pricing 
services.  In  this  instance,  the  Group’s  valuation  team  may  choose  to  apply  internally  developed  valuation 
method to the assets or liabilities being measured, determine the main inputs for valuation, and analyse the 
change of the valuation and report it to management. Key inputs involved in internal valuation services are 
not based on observable market data. They reflect assumptions made by management based on judgements 
and experiences. The assets or liabilities valued by this method are generally classified as Level 3.

As at 31 December 2015, assets classified as Level 1 accounted for approximately 35.24% of 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  interbank  market  and  open-ended  funds. 
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.  Trading  prices  from  the 
Chinese interbank market are determined by both trading counterparties and can be observed publicly. The 
Company adopted this price of the debt securities traded on the Chinese interbank market at the reporting 
date  as  their  fair  market  value  and  classified  the  investments  as  Level  1.  Open-ended  funds  also  have 
active  markets.  Fund  management  companies  publish  the  net  asset  value  of  these  funds  on  their  websites 
on  each  trade  date.  Investors  subscribe  for  and  redeem  units  of  these  funds  in  accordance  with  the  fund 
net  asset  value  published  by  the  fund  management  companies  on  each  trade  date.  The  Company  adopted 
the  unadjusted  net  asset  value  of  the  funds  at  reporting  dates  as  their  fair  market  value  and  classified  the 
investments as Level 1.

As at 31 December 2015, assets classified as Level 2 accounted for approximately 57.47% of 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, analyse 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.  Debt  securities  are  classified  as  Level  2 
when  they  are  valued  at  recent  quoted  prices  from  the  Chinese  interbank  market  or  from  valuation  service 
providers.

At 31 December 2015, assets classified as Level 3 accounted for approximately 7.29% of assets measured at 
fair value on a recurring basis. They primarily include unlisted equity securities and unlisted debt securities. 
Fair  values  are  determined  using  valuation  techniques,  including  discounted  cash  flow  valuations,  market 
comparison approach, etc.

For  the  accounting  policies  regarding  the  determination  of  fair  values  of  financial  assets  and  liabilities,  see 
Note 3.2.

148

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.3  Fair value hierarchy (continued)

The  following  table  presents  the  Group’s  quantitative  disclosures  of  fair  value  measurement  hierarchy  for 
assets and liabilities measured at fair value as at 31 December 2015:

Fair value measurement using

Quoted prices 
in active 
market 
Level 1 
RMB million 

Significant 
observable 
inputs 
Level 2 
RMB million 

Significant
unobservable
inputs
Level 3 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

Assets measured at fair value
Available-for-sale securities
  – Equity securities 
  – Debt securities 
Securities at fair value

through profit or loss

  – Equity securities 
  – Debt securities 

233,527 
20,575 

51,940 
380,823 

40,411 
18,304 

711 
76,680 

62,343 
501 

1,884 
– 

347,810
401,899

43,006
94,984

Total 

312,817 

510,154 

64,728 

887,699

Liabilities measured at fair value
Financial liabilities at fair value

through profit or loss 

Investment contracts at fair value

through profit or loss 

Total 

(856) 

(14) 

(870) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(856)

(14)

(870)

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 assets for the year ended 31 December 2015:

Available-for-sale securities 

Debt securities 
RMB million 

Equity securities 
RMB million 

Securities at fair
value through
profit or loss 
Equity securities 
RMB million 

Total

RMB million

Opening balance 
Purchases 
Transferred into Level 3 
Transferred out of Level 3 
Total gains recorded in profit or loss 
Total gains recorded in
  other comprehensive income 
Sales 

Closing balance 

501 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 

501 

149

21,635 
39,449 
2,785 
(390) 
– 

3,664 
(4,800) 

542 
– 
1,319 
(329) 
352 

– 
– 

22,678
39,449
4,104
(719)
352

3,664
(4,800)

62,343 

1,884 

64,728

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.3  Fair value hierarchy (continued)

The  following  table  presents  the  Group’s  quantitative  disclosures  of  fair  value  measurement  hierarchy  for 
assets and liabilities measured at fair value as at 31 December 2014:

Fair value measurement using

Quoted prices 
in active 
market 
Level 1 
RMB million 

Significant 
observable 
inputs 
Level 2 
RMB million 

Significant
unobservable
inputs
Level 3 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

Assets measured at fair value
Available-for-sale securities
  – Equity securities 
  – Debt securities 
Securities at fair value through
  profit or loss
  – Equity securities 
  – Debt securities 

151,817 
25,437 

22,716 
18,805 

23,479 
369,403 

582 
10,407 

21,635 
501 

542 
– 

196,931
395,341

23,840
29,212

Total 

218,775 

403,871 

22,678 

645,324

Liabilities measured at fair value
Investment contracts at fair value

through profit or loss 

Investment contracts at fair value

through profit or loss 

Total 

(10,890) 

(21) 

(10,911) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(10,890)

(21)

(10,911)

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 assets for the year ended 31 December 2014:

Available-for-sale securities 

Debt securities 
RMB million 

Equity securities 
RMB million 

Securities at fair 
value through
profit or loss 
Equity securities 
RMB million 

Total

RMB million

Opening balance 
Purchases 
Transferred into Level 3 
Transferred out of Level 3 
Total gains recorded in profit or loss 
Total gains recorded in 
  other comprehensive income 

Closing balance 

301 
200 
– 
– 
– 

– 

501 

150

13,588 
5,935 
363 
(377) 
– 

2,126 

21,635 

– 
– 
473 
– 
69 

– 

542 

13,889
6,135
836
(377)
69

2,126

22,678

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

4 

RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

4.3  Fair value hierarchy (continued)

The assets whose fair value measurements are classified under Level 3 above do not have any material impact 
on the profit or loss of the Group.

For the assets and liabilities measured at fair value, during the year ended 31 December 2015, RMB59,214 
million (2014: RMB22,436 million) debt securities were transferred from Level 1 to Level 2 within the fair 
value  hierarchy,  whereas  RMB12,129  million  (2014:  RMB10,344  million)  debt  securities  were  transferred 
from Level 2 to Level 1. No material equity securities were transferred between Level 1 and Level 2.

For  the  years  ended  31  December  2015  and  2014,  there  were  no  significant  changes  in  the  business  or 
economic circumstances that affected the fair value of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities. There were 
also no reclassifications of financial assets.

As  at  31  December  2015  and  2014,  unobservable  inputs  such  as  weighted  average  cost  of  capital  and 
liquidity  discount  were  used  in  the  valuation  of  assets  at  fair  value  classified  as  Level  3.  The  fair  value  was 
not significantly sensitive to reasonable changes in these unobservable inputs.

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION

5.1  Operating segments

The Group operates in four operating segments:

(i) 

Life insurance business (Life)
Life  insurance  business  relates  primarily  to  the  sale  of  life  insurance  policies,  including  those  life 
insurance policies without significant insurance risk transferred.

(ii)  Health insurance business (Health)

Health  insurance  business  relates  primarily  to  the  sale  of  health  insurance  policies,  including  those 
health insurance policies without significant insurance risk transferred.

(iii)  Accident insurance business (Accident)

Accident insurance business relates primarily to the sale of accident insurance policies.

151

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

5.1  Operating segments (continued)

(iv)  Other businesses (Others)

Other businesses relate primarily to income and allocated cost of insurance agency business in respect 
of  services  to  CLIC  as  described  in  Note  33,  net  share  of  profit  of  associates  and  joint  ventures, 
income and expenses of subsidiaries, and unallocated income and expenditure of the Group.

5.2  Allocation basis of income and expenses

Investment income, net realised gains on financial assets, net fair value gains/(losses) through profit or loss 
and  foreign  exchange  gains/(losses)  within  other  expenses  are  allocated  among  segments  in  proportion  to 
the respective segment’s average liabilities of insurance contracts and investment contracts at the beginning 
and end of the year. Administrative expenses are allocated among segments in proportion to the unit cost of 
respective products in the different segments. Unallocated other income and other expenses are presented in 
the “Others” segment directly. Income tax is not allocated.

5.3  Allocation basis of assets and liabilities

Financial  assets  and  securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase  are  allocated  among  segments  in 
proportion  to  the  respective  segment’s  average  liabilities  of  insurance  contracts  and  investment  contracts 
at  the  beginning  and  end  of  the  year.  Insurance  and  investment  contract  liabilities  are  presented  under  the 
respective segments. The remaining assets and liabilities are not allocated.

152

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

Revenues
Gross written premiums 
  – Term life 
  – Whole life 
  – Endowment 
  – Annuity 
Net premiums earned 
Investment income 
Net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets 
Net fair value gains/(losses) through profit or loss 
Other income 

Including: inter-segment revenue 

For the year ended 31 December 2015

Life 

Health 

Accident 

Others 

Elimination 

Total

RMB million

308,169 
3,476 
28,119 
177,871 
98,703 
308,081 
93,819 
31,259 
9,863 
1,074 
– 

42,041 
– 
– 
– 
– 
40,855 
2,983 
992 
313 
61 
– 

13,761 
– 
– 
– 
– 
13,365 
344 
115 
36 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
436 
(69) 
(3) 
5,006 
1,081 

– 
–
–
–
–
– 
– 
– 
– 
(1,081) 
(1,081) 

363,971

362,301
97,582
32,297
10,209
5,060
–

Segment revenues 

444,096 

45,204 

13,860 

5,370 

(1,081) 

507,449

Benefits, claims and expenses
Insurance benefits and claims expenses
  Life insurance death and other benefits 
  Accident and health claims and claim

  adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contract liabilities 

Investment contract benefits 
Policyholder dividends resulting from
  participation in profits 
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs 
Finance costs 
Administrative expenses 
Other expenses 

Including: inter-segment expenses 
Statutory insurance fund contribution 

(219,944) 

(1,737) 

(20) 

– 
(93,668) 
(2,076) 

(33,328) 
(24,921) 
(4,054) 
(18,293) 
(6,345) 
(1,044) 
(546) 

(16,858) 
(15,803) 
(188) 

(163) 
(5,528) 
(129) 
(3,811) 
(327) 
(33) 
(103) 

(4,151) 
(38) 
– 

– 
(3,813) 
(15) 
(3,136) 
(840) 
(4) 
(94) 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
(1,307) 
(122) 
(2,218) 
(997) 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
1,081 
1,081 
– 

(221,701)

(21,009)
(109,509)
(2,264)

(33,491)
(35,569)
(4,320)
(27,458)
(7,428)
–
(743)

Segment benefits, claims and expenses 

(403,175) 

(44,647) 

(12,107) 

(4,644) 

1,081 

(463,492)

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures, net 

Segment results 

Income tax 

Net profit 

Attributable to
  – Equity holders of the Company 
  – Non-controlling interests 

Other comprehensive income attributable to
  equity holders of the Company 

Depreciation and amortisation 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1,974

45,931

(10,744)

35,187

34,699
488

7,076

2,036

– 

40,921 

– 

557 

– 

1,753 

1,974 

2,700 

6,359 

1,388 

202 

263 

23 

240 

492 

145 

153

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

Assets
Financial assets (including cash
  and cash equivalents) 
Others 

Segment assets 

Unallocated
Property, plant and equipment 
Others 

Total 

Liabilities
Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Others 

Segment liabilities 

Unallocated
Others 

Total 

Life 

Health 

Accident 

Others 

Elimination 

Total

As at 31 December 2015

RMB million

2,243,403 
7,904 

69,565 
4,917 

2,251,307 

74,482 

7,968 
475 

8,443 

14,900 
47,175 

62,075 

1,652,469 
74,046 
29,329 
94,589 

57,024 
10,060 
931 
3,278 

1,850,433 

71,293 

6,492 
– 
108 
401 

7,001 

– 
– 
986 
3,499 

4,485 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

2,335,836
60,471

2,396,307

26,974
25,034

2,448,315

1,715,985
84,106
31,354
101,767

1,933,212

188,889

2,122,101

154

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

For the year ended 31 December 2014

Life 

Health 

Accident 

Others 

Elimination 

Total

RMB million

Revenues
Gross written premiums 
  – Term life 
  – Whole life 
  – Endowment 
  – Annuity 
Net premiums earned 
Investment income 
Net realised gains/(losses) on financial assets 
Net fair value gains/(losses) through profit or loss 
Other income 

Including: inter-segment revenue 

285,619 
2,871 
29,767 
217,662 
35,319 
285,574 
89,814 
6,970 
6,179 
898 
– 

33,192 
– 
– 
– 
– 
32,624 
2,236 
174 
154 
67 
– 

12,199 
– 
– 
– 
– 
11,907 
315 
24 
22 
– 
– 

Segment revenues 

389,435 

35,255 

12,268 

Benefits, claims and expenses
Insurance benefits and claims expenses
  Life insurance death and other benefits 
  Accident and health claims and claim

  adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contract liabilities 

Investment contract benefits 
Policyholder dividends resulting from
  participation in profits 
Underwriting and policy acquisition costs 
Finance costs 
Administrative expenses 
Other expenses 

Including: inter-segment expenses 
Statutory insurance fund contribution 

(191,291) 

(1,355) 

(13) 

– 
(97,577) 
(1,806) 

(24,742) 
(18,126) 
(4,451) 
(16,677) 
(3,608) 
(903) 
(506) 

(12,883) 
(8,196) 
(152) 

(124) 
(4,770) 
(111) 
(4,092) 
(204) 
(22) 
(116) 

(3,869) 
(110) 
– 

– 
(3,354) 
(16) 
(2,576) 
(705) 
(3) 
(79) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
1,183 
(48) 
(547) 
4,148 
928 

4,736 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
(897) 
(148) 
(2,087) 
(562) 
– 
– 

Segment benefits, claims and expenses 

(358,784) 

(32,003) 

(10,722) 

(3,694) 

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures, net 

– 

– 

– 

30,651 

3,252 

1,546 

3,911 

4,953 

Segment results 

Income tax 

Net profit 

Attributable to
  – Equity holders of the Company 
  – Non-controlling interests 

Other comprehensive income attributable to
  equity holders of the Company 

Depreciation and amortisation 

– 
–
–
–
–
– 
– 
– 
– 
(928) 
(928) 

331,010

330,105
93,548
7,120
5,808
4,185
–

(928) 

440,766

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
928 
928 
– 

928 

– 

– 

(192,659)

(16,752)
(105,883)
(1,958)

(24,866)
(27,147)
(4,726)
(25,432)
(4,151)
–
(701)

(404,275)

3,911

40,402

(7,888)

32,514

32,211
303

39,232

2,124

38,270 

1,427 

951 

324 

134 

221 

(123) 

152 

– 

– 

155

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

5 

SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

Assets
Financial assets (including
  cash and cash equivalents) 
Others 

Segment assets 

Unallocated
Property, plant and equipment 
Others 

Total 

Liabilities

Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Others 

Segment liabilities 

Unallocated
Others 

Total 

Life 

Health 

Accident 

Others 

Elimination 

Total

As at 31 December 2014

RMB million

2,059,641 
7,881 

2,067,522 

50,013 
3,985 

53,998 

6,961 
312 

7,273 

27,421 
44,390 

71,811 

1,558,714 
63,710 
43,310 
90,703 

1,756,437 

38,872 
8,565 
1,076 
2,732 

51,245 

5,860 
– 
152 
372 

6,384 

– 
– 
1,551 
13,513 

15,064 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

2,144,036
56,568

2,200,604

25,348
20,615

2,246,567

1,603,446
72,275
46,089
107,320

1,829,130

130,106

1,959,236

156

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

6 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Office
equipment
furniture and 
fixtures 

Buildings 

Motor  Assets under 
vehicles 

Leasehold
construction  improvements 

Total

RMB million

Cost
As at 1 January 2015 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

22,777 
1,486 
54 
(64) 

6,676 
6 
352 
(418) 

1,392 
– 
128 
(133) 

6,333 
(1,686) 
2,981 
(63) 

1,246 
172 
13 
(123) 

38,424
(22)
3,528
(801)

As at 31 December 2015 

24,253 

6,616 

1,387 

7,565 

1,308 

41,129

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2015 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

(6,640) 
(839) 
33 

(4,473) 
(658) 
393 

(996) 
(135) 
126 

As at 31 December 2015 

(7,446) 

(4,738) 

(1,005) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2015 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2015 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2015 

(24) 
– 
– 

(24) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

16,113 

2,203 

As at 31 December 2015 

16,783 

1,878 

– 
– 
– 

– 

396 

382 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

(943) 
(116) 
117 

(13,052)
(1,748)
669

(942) 

(14,131)

– 
– 
– 

– 

(24)
–
–

(24)

6,333 

303 

25,348

7,565 

366 

26,974

157

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

6 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (continued)

Office
equipment
furniture and 
fixtures 

Buildings 

Motor 
vehicles 

Assets under 
construction 

Leasehold
improvements 

Total

RMB million

Cost
As at 1 January 2014 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

19,949 
2,781 
175 
(128) 

6,730 
268 
361 
(683) 

1,448 
– 
2 
(58) 

6,125 
(3,194) 
3,614 
(212) 

1,166 
100 
13 
(33) 

35,418
(45)
4,165
(1,114)

As at 31 December 2014 

22,777 

6,676 

1,392 

6,333 

1,246 

38,424

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2014 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

(5,910) 
(788) 
58 

(4,349) 
(778) 
654 

(883) 
(167) 
54 

As at 31 December 2014 

(6,640) 

(4,473) 

(996) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2014 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2014 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2014 

(25) 
– 
1 

(24) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

14,014 

2,381 

As at 31 December 2014 

16,113 

2,203 

– 
– 
– 

– 

565 

396 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

(858) 
(111) 
26 

(12,000)
(1,844)
792

(943) 

(13,052)

– 
– 
– 

– 

(25)
–
1

(24)

6,125 

308 

23,393

6,333 

303 

25,348

158

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

Buildings
RMB million

1,435
–

1,435

(152)
(46)

(198)

1,283

1,237

2,080

2,238

7 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

Cost
As at 1 January 2015 
Additions 

As at 31 December 2015 

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2015 
Charge for the year 

As at 31 December 2015 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2015 

As at 31 December 2015 

Fair value
As at 1 January 2015 

As at 31 December 2015 

159

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

7 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES (continued)

Cost
As at 1 January 2014 
Additions 

As at 31 December 2014 

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2014 
Charge for the year 

As at 31 December 2014 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2014 

As at 31 December 2014 

Fair value
As at 1 January 2014 

As at 31 December 2014 

Buildings
RMB million

1,435
–

1,435

(106)
(46)

(152)

1,329

1,283

2,045

2,080

The  Company  leases  part  of  its  investment  properties  to  its  subsidiaries  and  charges  rentals  based  on  the  areas 
occupied  by  the  respective  entities.  These  properties  are  categorized  as  property,  plant  and  equipment  of  the 
Group in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The  Group  has  no  restrictions  on  the  use  of  its  investment  properties  and  no  contractual  obligations  to  each 
investment property purchased, constructed or developed or for repairs, maintenance and enhancements.

There were no investment properties without title certificates as at 31 December 2015.

The  fair  values  of  investment  properties  of  the  Group  as  at  31  December  2015  amounted  to  RMB2,238  million 
(as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB2,080  million),  which  was  estimated  by  the  Group  having  regards  to  valuations 
performed  by  an  independent  appraiser.  The  investment  properties  were  classified  as  Level  3  in  the  fair  value 
hierarchy.

160

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

7 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES (continued)
The Group uses the market comparison approach as its primary method to estimate the fair value of its investment 
properties.  Under  the  market  comparison  approach,  the  estimated  fair  value  of  a  property  is  based  on  the 
average  sale  price  of  comparable  properties  recently  sold,  with  consideration  of  the  comprehensive  adjustment 
coefficient, which is composed of a number of adjusting factors, including the time and the conditions of sale, the 
geographical location, age, decoration, floor area, lot size of the property and other factors.

Under  the  market  comparison  approach,  an  increase  (decrease)  in  the  comprehensive  adjustment  coefficient  will 
result in an increase (decrease) in the fair value of investment properties.

8 

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES

As at 1 January 
Investments in associates and joint ventures 
Scrip dividend 
Share of profit 
Other equity movements 
Dividend received (i) 
Impairment (ii) 

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

44,390 
766 
– 
2,984 
649 
(604) 
(1,010) 

34,775
5,671
268
3,911
280
(515)
–

As at 31 December 

47,175 

44,390

(i) 

2014  final  dividend  of  HKD0.165  per  ordinary  share  was  approved  and  declared  in  the  annual  general 
meeting of Sino-Ocean Land Holdings Limited (“Sino-Ocean”) on 12 May 2015. On 22 May 2015, Sino-
Ocean  made  the  announcement  of  scrip  dividend  plan,  according  to  which  the  shareholders  could  elect  to 
receive the 2014 final dividend in cash or in scrip shares. The Company elected the cash option and received 
cash dividend amounting to RMB286 million. 2015 interim dividend of HKD0.075 per ordinary share was 
approved and declared in the board meeting of Sino-Ocean on 21 August 2015, and each shareholder could 
elect to receive the 2015 interim dividend in cash or in scrip shares. The Company elected the cash option 
and received cash dividend amounting to RMB136 million.

(ii)  The  Group’s  investments  in  associates  and  joint  ventures  are  unlisted  except  for  Sino-Ocean,  which  is 
listed  in  Hong  Kong.  As  at  31  December  2015,  the  stock  price  of  Sino-Ocean  was  HKD4.97  per  share. 
As  its  business  performance  declined  in  2015,  and  the  quoted  market  price  of  Sino-Ocean  (stock  price  per 
share multiplies shares held by the Group) was below the carrying value for more than one year, the Group 
performed an impairment test to this investment. As at 31 December 2015, the recoverable amount of this 
investment valued using the discounted future cash flow method was approximately RMB12.40 billion and 
therefore  an  impairment  loss  of  RMB1.01  billion  was  made  for  this  investment  in  2015.  In  the  valuation, 
the Group separated the development property and investment property by considering the different future 
cash flow features. The discount rates applied in the valuation were 10% and 8% for development property 
and  investment  property,  respectively.  The  impairment  for  this  investment  is  included  in  Share  of  profit  of 
associates and joint ventures, net in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

161

 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

8 

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES (continued)
As at 31 December 2015, the Group owned the following associates and joint ventures:

Name 

Country of incorporation 

Percentage of equity interest held

Associates
China Guangfa Bank Co., Ltd (“CGB”) 
China Life Property & Casualty Insurance
  Company Limited (“CLP&C”) 
Sino-Ocean 
COFCO Futures Company Limited 

(“COFCO Futures”) 

Annoroad Gene Technology (Beijing)
  Co., Ltd. (“Annoroad Technology”)(i) 

Joint ventures
10 Upper Bank Street SLP 
China Life (Sanya) Healthy Investment 
  Company Limited (“Sanya Company”)(ii) 

PRC 

PRC 
Hong Kong, PRC 

PRC 

PRC 

Jersey Island 

PRC 

20.00%

40.00%
29.998%

35.00%

16.67%

70.00%

51.00%

(i) 

(ii) 

In  June  2015,  the  Group  contributed  RMB250  million  in  Annoroad  Technology,  holding  16.67%  of  its 
equity interests. According to the provisions of the agreement, the Group can impose a significant influence 
over  Annoroad  Technology’s  financial  and  operating  decisions  through  its  general  meeting  and  board  of 
directors, and therefore accounted for it as an associate.

In  December  2015,  the  Group  contributed  RMB306  million  in  Sanya  Company,  holding  51.00%  of  its 
equity  interests.  According  to  the  investment  agreement  and  the  articles  of  association  of  Sanya  Company, 
the Group has joint control with another investor over Sanya Company, and therefore accounted for it as a 
joint venture.

As at 31 December 2014, the Group owned the following associates and joint ventures:

Name 

Associates
CGB 
CLP&C 
Sino-Ocean 
COFCO Futures 

Joint venture
10 Upper Bank Street SLP 

Country of incorporation 

Percentage of equity interest held

20.00%
40.00%
29.46%
35.00%

70.00%

PRC 
PRC 
Hong Kong, PRC 
PRC 

Jersey Island 

162

 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

8 

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES (continued)
The following table illustrates the summarised financial information of the Group’s associates and joint ventures as 
at 31 December 2015 and for the year ended 31 December 2015:

Sanya
 Company
RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million

Annoroad 
 Technology 

COFCO 
Futures 

Sino-Ocean 

CLP&C 

CGB 

10 Upper 
Bank 
Street SLP 

Total assets 
Total liabilities 
Total equity 
Total equity attributable to equity holders
  of the associates and joint ventures 
Total adjustments (i) 
Total equity attributable to equity holders 
  of the associates and joint ventures
  after adjustments 
Proportion of the Group’s ownership 
Gross carrying value of the investments 
Impairment 
Net carrying value of the investments 

Total revenues 
Net profit/(loss) 
Other comprehensive income 
Total comprehensive income 

1,836,587 
1,739,047 
97,540 

97,540 
– 

97,540 
20.00% 
22,553 
– 
22,553 

54,735 
9,064 
1,028 
10,092 

65,634 
46,103 
19,531 

19,531 
– 

19,531 
40.00% 
7,812 
– 
7,812 

46,829 
2,258 
379 
2,637 

148,185 
99,995 
48,190 

41,231 
239 

41,470 
29.998% 
13,407 
(1,010) 
12,397 

31,226 
2,251 
(80) 
2,171 

8,598 
6,146 
2,452 

2,452 
– 

337 
7 
330 

330 
– 

2,452 
35.00% 
1,397 
– 
1,397 

330 
16.67% 
246 
– 
246 

390 
15 
(15) 
– 

100 
(37) 
– 
(37) 

8,503 
4,449 
4,054 

4,054 
(534) 

3,520 
70.00% 
2,464 
– 
2,464 

432 
496 
45 
541 

600
–
600

600
–

600
51.00%
306
–
306

–
–
–
–

163

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

8 

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES (continued)
The following table illustrates the summarised financial information of the Group’s associates and joint ventures as 
at 31 December 2014 and for the year ended 31 December 2014:

CGB 
RMB million 

CLP&C 
RMB million 

Sino-Ocean 
RMB million 

COFCO  10 Upper Bank
Street SLP
Futures 
RMB million
RMB million 

Total assets 
Total liabilities 
Total equity 
Total equity attributable to equity holders 
  of the associates and joint ventures 
Total adjustments (i) 
Total equity attributable to equity holders of  

the associates and joint ventures after 

  adjustments 
Proportion of the Group’s ownership 
Gross carrying value of the investments 
Impairment 
Net carrying value of the investments 

Total revenues 
Net profit 
Other comprehensive income 
Total comprehensive income 

1,648,056 
1,560,607 
87,449 

87,449 
– 

87,449 
20.00% 
20,535 
– 
20,535 

44,644 
12,037 
2,120 
14,157 

52,769 
35,876 
16,893 

16,893 
– 

16,893 
40.00% 
6,757 
– 
6,757 

36,522 
1,407 
318 
1,725 

132,212 
87,829 
44,383 

40,491 
984 

41,475 
29.46% 
13,186 
– 
13,186 

40,411 
4,606 
(19) 
4,587 

9,784 
7,245 
2,539 

2,539 
– 

2,539 
35.00% 
1,434 
– 
1,434 

3,306 
84 
8 
92 

8,199
4,450
3,749

3,749
(209)

3,540
70.00%
2,478
–
2,478

241
142
(299)
(157)

The  Group  had  no  contingent  liabilities  or  capital  commitments  with  the  associates  and  joint  ventures  as  at  31 
December 2015 and 31 December 2014.

(i) 

Including adjustments for the difference of accounting policies, fair value and others.

164

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

79,438 
126,097 
146,405 
152,135 

88,843
126,140
146,595
155,705

504,075 

517,283

61,916 
50 
24 
442,085 

68,199
37
23
449,024

504,075 

517,283

9 

FINANCIAL ASSETS

9.1  Held-to-maturity securities

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed in Hong Kong, PRC 
  Listed in Singapore 
  Unlisted 

Total 

The estimated fair value of all held-to-maturity securities was RMB550,844 million as at 31 December 2015 
(as at 31 December 2014: RMB526,526 million).

Unlisted debt securities include those traded on the Chinese interbank market.

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 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

2,000 
86,198 
167,450 
248,427 

504,075 

11,823
70,592
149,986
284,882

517,283

165

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

9 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

9.2  Loans

Policy loans 
Other loans (i) 

Total 

Maturing:
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 
  After ten years 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

84,959 
122,308 

73,654
92,799

207,267 

166,453

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

90,250 
84,078 
24,239 
8,700 

80,214
53,894
32,345
–

207,267 

166,453

(i)  Other  loans  mainly  consisted  of  different  types  of  asset  management  products.  As  at  31  December 
2015,  RMB172,983  million  (as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB84,300  million)  of  asset  management 
products  had  been  managed  by  China  Life  Asset  Management  Company  Limited  (“AMC”),  a 
subsidiary  of  the  Company,  of  which  RMB37,978  million  (as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB39,571 
million)  was  owned  by  the  Group.  Meanwhile,  the  Group  also  owned  RMB75,936  million  (as  at  31 
December  2014:  RMB50,034  million)  of  asset  management  products  managed  by  other  financial 
institutions.  Asset  management  products  are  guaranteed  by  third  parties  or  with  pledge,  or  have  the 
national  annual  budget  income  as  the  source  of  repayment,  or  have  higher  credit  rating  borrowers. 
The Group did not guarantee or provide any financing support for other loans, and considers that the 
carrying value of other loans represents its maximum risk exposure.

During  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  Group’s  investment  income  from  the  above  asset 
management  products  was  RMB6,455  million  (2014:  RMB4,137  million),  and  the  related  asset 
management  fee  received  by  AMC  for  all  asset  management  products  it  issued  was  RMB224  million 
(2014: RMB171 million).

166

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

181,780 
380,842 
– 

200,214
463,442
26,500

562,622 

690,156

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

300 
6,033 

6,333 

–
6,153

6,153

9 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

9.3  Term deposits

Maturing:
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 

Total 

9.4  Statutory deposits – restricted

Contractual maturity schedule:
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 

Total 

Insurance  companies  in  China  are  required  to  deposit  an  amount  that  equals  to  20%  of  their  registered 
capital  with  banks  in  conformity  with  regulations  of  the  CIRC.  These  funds  may  not  be  used  for  any 
purpose, other than to pay off debts during liquidation proceedings.

167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

9 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

9.5  Available-for-sale securities

Available-for-sale securities, at fair value
  Debt securities

  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 
  Others (i) 

  Subtotal 

  Equity securities

  Funds 
  Common stocks 
  Preferred stocks 
  Wealth management products 
  Others (i) 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

25,713 
145,399 
206,767 
19,298 
4,722 

26,328
138,487
206,511
22,798
1,217

401,899 

395,341

163,366 
74,629 
18,712 
50,053 
41,050 

83,121
71,592
3,000
21,038
18,180

  Subtotal 

347,810 

196,931

Available-for-sale securities, at cost
  Equity securities
  Others (i) 

Total 

20,807 

15,259

770,516 

607,531

(i)  Other  available-for-sale  securities  mainly  include  unlisted  equity  investments  and  private  equity 
funds,  etc.  The  Group  did  not  guarantee  or  provide  any  financing  support  for  other  available-for-
sale securities, and considers that the carrying value of other available-for-sale securities represents its 
maximum risk exposure.

168

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

9 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

9.5  Available-for-sale securities (continued)

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed in Singapore 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed in Hong Kong, PRC 
  Listed in Singapore 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

42,022 
266 
359,611 

46,137
260
348,944

401,899 

395,341

85,658 
8,391 
172 
274,396 

71,553
8,303
–
132,334

368,617 

212,190

770,516 

607,531

Unlisted debt securities include those traded on the Chinese interbank market and those not publicly traded. 
Unlisted equity securities include those not traded on stock exchanges, which are mainly open-ended funds 
with public market price quotation.

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 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

32,598 
135,866 
112,419 
121,016 

13,939
139,737
120,284
121,381

401,899 

395,341

169

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

9 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

9.6  Securities at fair value through profit or loss

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Others 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Funds 
  Common stocks 

Subtotal 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed overseas 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed in Hong Kong 
  Listed overseas 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

603 
5,689 
88,291 
401 

254
4,085
24,873
–

94,984 

29,212

6,119 
36,887 

499
23,341

43,006 

23,840

137,990 

53,052

8,852 
56 
86,076 

5,920
–
23,292

94,984 

29,212

32,427 
70 
6,099 
4,410 

23,488
–
–
352

43,006 

23,840

137,990 

53,052

Unlisted debt securities include those traded on the Chinese interbank market and those not publicly traded. 
Unlisted equity securities include those not traded on stock exchanges, which are mainly open-ended funds 
with public market price quotation.

170

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

9 

FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

9.7  Securities purchased under agreements to resell

Maturing:
  Within 30 days 

Total 

9.8  Accrued investment income

Bank deposits 
Debt securities 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

21,503 

11,925

21,503 

11,925

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

31,705 
15,703 
2,144 

27,084
15,667
1,599

49,552 

44,350

31,218 
18,334 

31,928
12,422

49,552 

44,350

171

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

10  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The  table  below  presents  the  carrying  value  and  estimated  fair  value  of  major  financial  assets  and  liabilities,  and 
investment contracts:

Carrying value 

Estimated fair value (i)

As at 31 

As at 31
December 2015  December 2014  December 2015  December 2014
RMB million

RMB million 

RMB million 

RMB million 

As at 31 

As at 31 

Held-to-maturity securities (ii) 
Loans 
Term deposits 
Statutory deposits – restricted 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value 
Securities at fair value through profit or loss 
Securities purchased under agreements to resell 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Investment contracts (iii) 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Bonds payable (iii) 

504,075 
207,267 
562,622 
6,333 
749,709 
137,990 
21,503 
76,096 
(84,106) 
(856) 
(31,354) 
(67,994) 

517,283 
166,453 
690,156 
6,153 
592,272 
53,052 
11,925 
47,034 
(72,275) 
(10,890) 
(46,089) 
(67,989) 

550,844 
207,267 
562,622 
6,333 
749,709 
137,990 
21,503 
76,096 
(82,644) 
(856) 
(31,354) 
(69,580) 

526,526
166,453
690,156
6,153
592,272
53,052
11,925
47,034
(70,694)
(10,890)
(46,089)
(68,370)

(i) 

The estimates and judgements to determine the fair value of financial assets are described in Note 3.2.

(ii)  The  fair  value  of  held-to-maturity  securities  is  determined  by  reference  with  other  debt  securities  which 
are  measured  by  fair  value.  Please  refer  to  Note  4.3.  The  fair  value  of  held-to-maturity  under  Level  1 
was  RMB29,777  million  and  under  Level  2  was  RMB521,067  million  as  at  31  December  2015  (as  at  31 
December 2014: Level 1 RMB69,506 million and Level 2 RMB457,020 million).

(iii) 

Investment contracts at fair value through profit or loss have quoted prices in active markets, and therefore, 
their fair value was classified as Level 1.

The fair values of investment contracts at amortised cost and bonds payable were determined using valuation 
techniques,  with  consideration  of  the  present  value  of  expected  cash  flows  arising  from  contracts  using  a 
risk-adjusted discount rate, allowing for the risk-free rate available on the valuation date, credit risk and risk 
margin associated with the future cash flows. The fair values of investment contracts at amortised cost and 
bonds payable were classified as Level 3.

11  PREMIUMS RECEIVABLE

As at 31 December 2015, the carrying value of premiums receivable within one year was RMB11,899 million (as 
at 31 December 2014: RMB11,143 million).

172

 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

1,246 
37 
87 
50 

1,420 

174 
1,246 

1,420 

908
20
65
39

1,032

124
908

1,032

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

6,341 
5,998 
4,242 
2,520 
936 
772 
2,833 

1,656
6,137
4,104
2,281
2,449
684
2,100

23,642 

19,411

17,274 
6,368 

12,956
6,455

23,642 

19,411

12  REINSURANCE ASSETS

Long-term insurance contracts ceded (Note 14) 
Due from reinsurance companies 
Ceded unearned premiums (Note 14) 
Claims recoverable from reinsurers (Note 14) 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

13  OTHER ASSETS

Receivable from constructors 
Land use rights 
Investments receivable 
Automated policy loans 
Tax refundable 
Due from related parties 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

14 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS

(a)  Process used to decide on assumptions

(i) 

For  the  insurance  contracts  of  which  future  insurance  benefits  are  affected  by  investment  yields  of 
corresponding  investment  portfolios,  the  discount  rate  assumption  is  based  on  expected  investment 
returns  of  the  asset  portfolio  backing  these  liabilities,  considering  the  impacts  of  time  value  on 
reserves.

In  developing  discount  rate  assumptions,  the  Group  considers  investment  experience,  the  current 
investment  portfolio  and  trend  of  the  relevant  yield  curves.  The  discount  rates  reflect  the  future 
economic  outlook  as  well  as  the  Group’s  investment  strategy.  The  assumed  discount  rates  with  risk 
margin for the past two years are as follows:

As at 31 December 2015 
As at 31 December 2014 

Discount rate assumptions

4.80%~5.00%
4.80%~5.00%

For the insurance contracts of which future insurance benefits are not affected by investment yields of 
the corresponding investment portfolios, the discount rate assumption is based on the “Yield curve of 
reserve computation benchmark for insurance contracts”, published on the “China Bond” website with 
consideration of liquidity spreads, taxation and other relevant factors. The assumed discount rates with 
risk margin for the past two years are as follows:

As at 31 December 2015 
As at 31 December 2014 

Discount rate assumptions

3.42%~5.78%
3.52%~5.96%

There  is  uncertainty  on  the  discount  rate  assumption,  which  is  affected  by  factors  such  as  future 
macro-economy, monetary and foreign exchange policies, capital market and availability of investment 
channels  of  insurance  funds.  The  Group  determines  the  discount  rate  assumption  based  on  the 
information obtained at the end of each reporting period including consideration of risk margin.

174

 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

14 

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  vary  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 reserving of 
liability.  Similarly,  improvements  in  longevity  due  to  continuing  advancements  in  medical  care  and 
social conditions may expose the Group 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  reserving  of 
liability if current morbidity assumptions do not properly reflect such trends.

Risk margin is considered in the Group’s mortality and morbidity assumptions.

(iii)  Expense  assumptions  are  based  on  expected  unit  costs  with  the  consideration  of  previous  expense 
studies and future trends. Expense assumptions are affected by certain factors such as future inflation 
and  market  competition  which  bring  uncertainty  to  these  assumptions.  The  Group  considers  risk 
margin  for  expense  assumptions  based  on  information  obtained  at  the  end  of  each  reporting  period. 
Components of expense assumptions include cost per policy and percentage of premium as follows:

Individual Life 

Group Life

RMB Per Policy 

% of Premium 

RMB Per Policy 

% of Premium

As at 31 December 2015 
As at 31 December 2014 

37.00~45.00 
37.00~45.00 

0.85%~0.90% 
0.85%~0.90% 

15.00 
14.00 

0.90%
0.90%

(iv)  The lapse rates and other assumptions are affected by certain factors, such as future macro-economy, 
availability  of  financial  substitutions,  and  market  competition,  which  bring  uncertainty  to  these 
assumptions.  The  lapse  rates  and  other  assumptions  are  determined  with  reference  to  creditable  past 
experience, current conditions, future expectations and other information.

175

 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

14 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS (continued)

(a)  Process used to decide on assumptions (continued)

(v)  The  Group  applied  a  consistent  method  to  determine  risk  margin.  The  Group  considers  risk  margin 
for  discount  rate,  mortality  and  morbidity  and  expense  assumptions  to  compensate  for  the  uncertain 
amount and timing of future cash flow. When determining risk margin, the Group considers historical 
experience, future expectations and other factors. The Group determines risk margin level by itself as 
the regulations have not imposed any specific requirement on it.

The  Group  adopted  a  consistent  process  to  decide  on  assumptions  for  the  insurance  contracts 
disclosed  in  this  note.  On  each  reporting  date,  the  Group  reviews  the  assumptions  for  reasonable 
estimates of liability and risk margin, with consideration of all available information, and taking into 
account the Group’s historical experience and expectation of future events.

(b)  Net liabilities of insurance contracts

Gross
Long-term insurance contracts 
Short-term insurance contracts
  – Claims and claim adjustment expenses 
  – Unearned premiums 

Total, gross 

Recoverable from reinsurers
Long-term insurance contracts (Note 12) 
Short-term insurance contracts
  – Claims and claim adjustment expenses (Note 12) 
  – Unearned premiums (Note 12) 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

1,698,773 

1,588,900

9,268 
7,944 

7,316
7,230

1,715,985 

1,603,446

(1,246) 

(50) 
(87) 

(908)

(39)
(65)

Total, ceded 

(1,383) 

(1,012)

Net
Long-term insurance contracts 
Short-term insurance contracts
  – Claims and claim adjustment expenses 
  – Unearned premiums 

Total, net 

1,697,527 

1,587,992

9,218 
7,857 

7,277
7,165

1,714,602 

1,602,434

176

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

14 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS (continued)

(c)  Movements in liabilities of short-term insurance contracts

The table below presents movements in claims and claim adjustment expense reserve:

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

Notified claims 
Incurred but not reported 

Total as at 1 January – Gross 

Cash paid for claims settled
  – Cash paid for current year claims 
  – Cash paid for prior year claims 
Claims incurred
  – Claims arising in current year 
  – Claims arising in prior years 

Total as at 31 December – Gross 

Notified claims 
Incurred but not reported 

Total as at 31 December – Gross 

2,135 
5,181 

7,316 

(12,349) 
(6,865) 

20,497 
669 

9,268 

1,748 
7,520 

9,268 

The table below presents movements in unearned premium reserves:

2015 
RMB million 
Ceded 

Net 

Gross 

2014
RMB million
Ceded 

(65) 
(87) 
65 

7,165 
7,857 
(7,165) 

6,896 
7,230 
(6,896) 

(121) 
(65) 
121 

Gross 

7,230 
7,944 
(7,230) 

As at 1 January 
Increase 
Release 

835
3,820

4,655

(9,636)
(4,557)

16,499
355

7,316

2,135
5,181

7,316

Net

6,775
7,165
(6,775)

As at 31 December 

7,944 

(87) 

7,857 

7,230 

(65) 

7,165

177

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

14 

INSURANCE CONTRACTS (continued)

(d)  Movements in liabilities of long-term insurance contracts

The table below presents movements in the liabilities of long-term insurance contracts:

As at 1 January 
Premiums 
Release of liabilities (i) 
Accretion of interest 
Change in assumptions
  – Change in discount rates 
  – Change in other assumptions (ii) 
Other movements 

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

1,588,900 
331,582 
(300,990) 
68,741 

8,510 
987 
1,043 

1,482,946
304,677
(265,137)
69,214

(4,599)
420
1,379

As at 31 December 

1,698,773 

1,588,900

(i) 

The  release  of  liabilities  mainly  consists  of  release  due  to  death  or  other  termination  and  related 
expenses, release of residual margin and change of reserves for claims and claim adjustment expenses.

(ii)  For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  change  in  other  assumptions  was  mainly  caused  by 
the  change  in  morbidity  rate  assumptions  of  certain  products,  which  increased  insurance  contract 
liabilities  by  RMB980  million.  This  change  reflected  the  Group’s  most  recent  experience  and  future 
expectations  about  the  morbidity  rates  as  at  the  reporting  date.  Changes  in  assumptions  other  than 
morbidity rates increased insurance contract liabilities by RMB7 million.

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2014,  the  change  in  other  assumptions  was  mainly  caused  by 
the  change  in  morbidity  rate  assumptions  of  certain  products,  which  increased  insurance  contract 
liabilities  by  RMB441  million.  This  change  reflected  the  Group’s  most  recent  experience  and  future 
expectations  about  morbidity  rate  as  at  the  reporting  date.  Changes  in  assumptions  other  than 
morbidity rates decreased insurance contract liabilities by RMB21 million.

178

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

15 

INVESTMENT CONTRACTS

Investment contracts with DPF at amortised cost 
Investment contracts without DPF
  – At amortised cost 
  – At fair value through profit or loss 

Total 

The table below presents movements of investment contracts with DPF:

As at 1 January 
Deposits received 
Deposits withdrawn, payments on death and other benefits 
Policy fees deducted from account balances 
Interest credited 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

50,295 

33,797 
14 

47,962

24,292
21

84,106 

72,275

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

47,962 
3,746 
(2,543) 
(34) 
1,164 

46,555
3,486
(3,334)
(33)
1,288

As at 31 December 

50,295 

47,962

179

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

16 

INTEREST-BEARING LOANS AND BORROWINGS

Maturity date 

Interest rate 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

Guaranteed loans 

17 June 2019 

3.54% 

2,643 

2,623

17  BONDS PAYABLE

As  at  31  December  2015,  all  bonds  payable  were  subordinated  bonds  with  a  total  carrying  value  of  RMB67,994 
million  (as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB67,989  million)  and  the  par  value  of  RMB68,000  million  (as  at  31 
December 2014: RMB68,000 million).

Issue date 

Maturity date 

Interest rate p.a. 

Par Value

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

26 October 2011 
29 June 2012 
5 November 2012 

Total 

26 October 2021 
29 June 2022 
5 November 2022 

5.50% 
4.70% 
4.58% 

30,000 
28,000 
10,000 

30,000
28,000
10,000

68,000 

68,000

The Company issued the above three subordinated bonds with a maturity term of 10 years to qualified investors 
who met the relevant regulatory requirements. The coupon rates per annum for the first 5 years are 5.50%, 4.70%, 
4.58%, respectively, for bonds issued on 26 October 2011, 29 June 2012 and 5 November 2012. The Company 
has  the  right  to  call  the  subordinated  bonds  at  par  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  year  after  issuance.  If  the  Company 
does not exercise the call option, the coupon rate per annum for the remaining 5 years will be raised by 200 basis 
points.

Subordinated bonds are measured at amortised cost as described in Note 2.14.

180

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

18  SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE

Interbank market 
Stock exchange market 

Total 

Maturing:
  Within 30 days 
  After 30 but within 90 days 
  After 90 days 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

27,922 
3,432 

41,477
4,612

31,354 

46,089

31,354 
– 
– 

42,971
118
3,000

31,354 

46,089

As  at  31  December  2015,  bonds  with  a  carrying  value  of  RMB28,802  million  (as  at  31  December  2014: 
RMB42,177 million) were pledged as collateral for financial assets sold under agreements to repurchase resulting 
from repurchase transactions entered into the Group in the interbank market.

For  debt  repurchase  transactions  through  the  stock  exchange,  the  Group  is  required  to  deposit  certain  exchange-
traded  bonds  into  a  collateral  pool  with  fair  value  converted  at  a  standard  rate  pursuant  to  the  stock  exchange’s 
regulation  which  should  be  no  less  than  the  balance  of  the  related  repurchase  transaction.  As  at  31  December 
2015, the carrying value of securities deposited in the collateral pool was RMB67,169 million (as at 31 December 
2014:  RMB49,963  million).  The  collateral  is  restricted  from  trading  during  the  period  of  the  repurchase 
transaction.

181

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

19  OTHER LIABILITIES

Interest payable to policyholders 
Salary and welfare payable 
Commission and brokerage payable 
Payable to third party holders of consolidated trust schemes 
Agent deposits 
Interest payable of subordinated debts 
Stock appreciation rights (Note 31) 
Payable to constructors 
Tax payable 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

6,410 
5,220 
2,598 
2,550 
1,117 
1,045 
845 
634 
511 
5,584 

5,008
4,589
1,919
–
761
1,044
1,025
783
717
4,216

26,514 

20,062

26,514 
– 

20,062
–

26,514 

20,062

20  STATUTORY INSURANCE FUND

As  required  by  the  CIRC  Order  [2008]  No.  2,  “Measures  for  Administration  of  Statutory  Insurance  Fund”,  all 
insurance  companies  have  to  pay  the  statutory  insurance  fund  contribution  to  the  CIRC  from  1  January  2009. 
The  Group  is  subject  to  the  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 total 
assets, no additional contribution to the statutory insurance fund is required.

182

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

21 

INVESTMENT INCOME

Debt securities
  – held-to-maturity securities 
  – available-for-sale securities 
  – at fair value through profit or loss 
Equity securities
  – available-for-sale securities 
  – at fair value through profit or loss 
Bank deposits 
Loans 
Securities purchased under agreements to resell 
Others 

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

24,541 
18,526 
1,382 

8,950 
326 
32,285 
11,115 
368 
89 

25,357
18,571
1,571

4,458
106
34,934
8,138
299
114

Total 

97,582 

93,548

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  interest  income  included  in  investment  income  was  RMB88,306 
million (2014: RMB88,984 million). All interest income was accrued using the effective interest method.

22  NET REALISED GAINS ON FINANCIAL ASSETS

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

(4) 
– 

(4) 

32,622 
(321) 

32,301 

32,297 

142
–

142

8,127
(1,149)

6,978

7,120

Debt securities
  Realised gains 
  Reversal of impairment 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Realised gains 
Impairment 

Subtotal 

Total 

Net realised gains on financial assets are from available-for-sale securities.

183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

22  NET REALISED GAINS ON FINANCIAL ASSETS (continued)

During  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  the  Group  recognised  an  impairment  charge  of  RMB147  million 
(2014: RMB146 million) of available-for-sale funds, an impairment charge of RMB174 million (2014: RMB1,003 
million)  of  available-for-sale  common  stocks,  and  no  impairment  charge  (2014:  Nil)  of  other  available-for-sale 
securities, for which the Group determined that objective evidence of impairment existed.

23  NET FAIR VALUE GAINS THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS

Debt securities 
Equity securities 
Stock appreciation rights 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 

Total 

24 

INSURANCE BENEFITS AND CLAIMS EXPENSES

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

766 
9,324 
180 
(61) 

2,272
4,977
(255)
(1,186)

10,209 

5,808

Gross 
RMB million 

Ceded 
RMB million 

Net
RMB million

For the year ended 31 December 2015
Life insurance death and other benefits 
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contract liabilities 

221,949 
21,166 
109,847 

(248) 
(157) 
(338) 

221,701
21,009
109,509

Total 

352,962 

(743) 

352,219

For the year ended 31 December 2014
Life insurance death and other benefits 
Accident and health claims and claim adjustment expenses 
Increase in insurance contract liabilities 

192,863 
16,854 
105,945 

(204) 
(102) 
(62) 

192,659
16,752
105,883

Total 

315,662 

(368) 

315,294

184

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

25 

INVESTMENT CONTRACT BENEFITS
Benefits of investment contracts are mainly the interest credited to investment contracts.

26  FINANCE COSTS

Interest expenses for bonds payable 
Interest expenses for securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Interest expenses for interest-bearing loans and borrowings 

Total 

27  PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX

Profit before income tax is stated after charging/(crediting) the following:

Employee salaries and welfare costs 
Housing benefits 
Contribution to the defined contribution pension plan 
Depreciation and amortisation 
Foreign exchange gains 
Auditors’ remuneration 

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

3,430 
784 
106 

4,320 

3,433
1,234
59

4,726

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

13,045 
824 
1,678 
2,036 
(812) 
60 

11,564
787
1,553
2,124
(268)
55

185

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

28  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 relates to the same tax authority.

(a)  The amount of taxation charged to net profit represents:

Current taxation – Enterprise income tax 
Deferred taxation 

Taxation charges 

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

15,408 
(4,664) 

10,744 

6,455
1,433

7,888

(b)  The  reconciliation  between  the  Group’s  effective  tax  rate  and  the  statutory  tax  rate  of  25%  in  the  PRC 

(2014: 25%) is as follows:

Profit before income tax 
Tax computed at the statutory tax rate 
Non-taxable income (i) 
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes (i) 
Tax losses utilised from previous periods 
Unused tax losses 
Others 

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

45,931 
11,483 
(3,324) 
2,655 
(41) 
1 
(30) 

40,402
10,101
(3,434)
1,190
–
19
12

Income tax at the effective tax rate 

10,744 

7,888

(i)  Non-taxable  income  mainly  includes  interest  income  from  government  bonds,  and  dividend  income 
from  applicable  equity  securities,  etc.  Expenses  not  deductible  for  tax  purposes  mainly  include 
commission,  brokerage,  donation  and  other  expenses  that  do  not  meet  the  criteria  for  deduction 
according to the relevant tax regulations.

186

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

28  TAXATION (continued)

(c)  As  at  31  December  2015  and  2014,  deferred  income  tax  was  calculated  in  full  on  temporary  differences 
under  the  liability  method  using  a  principal  tax  rate  of  25%.  The  movements  in  deferred  tax  assets  and 
liabilities during the year are as follows:

Deferred tax assets/(liabilities)

Insurance 
RMB million 
(i) 

Investments 
RMB million 
(ii) 

Others 
RMB million 
(iii)

Total
RMB million

As at 1 January 2014 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other
  comprehensive income

  – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Portion of fair value changes on
  available-for-sale securities
  attributable to participating 
  policyholders 

  – Others 

(11,627) 
552 

5,627 
(1,940) 

1,081 
(45) 

– 

(15,805) 

2,759 
– 

– 
23 

– 

– 
– 

(4,919)
(1,433)

(15,805)

2,759
23

As at 31 December 2014 

(8,316) 

(12,095) 

1,036 

(19,375)

As at 1 January 2015 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other
  comprehensive income

  – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Portion of fair value changes on
  available-for-sale securities
  attributable to participating
  policyholders 

  – Others 

(8,316) 
3,673 

(12,095) 
843 

1,036 
148 

– 

(5,445) 

3,192 
– 

– 
11 

– 

– 
– 

(19,375)
4,664

(5,445)

3,192
11

As at 31 December 2015 

(1,451) 

(16,686) 

1,184 

(16,953)

(i) 

The  deferred  tax  arising  from  the  insurance  category  is  mainly  related  to  the  change  of  long-term 
insurance  contract  liabilities  at  31  December  2008  as  a  result  of  the  first  time  adoption  of  IFRSs 
in  2009  and  the  temporary  differences  of  short-term  insurance  contract  liabilities  and  policyholder 
dividends payable.

(ii)  The deferred tax arising from the investments category is mainly related to the temporary differences 
of unrealised gains/(losses), which includes available-for-sale securities, securities at fair value through 
profit or loss, and others.

(iii)  The  deferred  tax  arising  from  the  others  category  is  mainly  related  to  the  temporary  differences  of 

employee salaries and welfare costs payable.

187

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

28  TAXATION (continued)

(c)  The movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year are as follows: (continued)

Unrecognised  deductible  tax  losses  of  the  Group  amounted  to  RMB727  million  as  at  31  December  2015 
(as at 31 December 2014: RMB879 million). Unrecognised deductible temporary differences of the Group 
amounted to RMB186 million as at 31 December 2015 (as at 31 December 2014: RMB166 million).

(d)  The analysis of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is as follows:

Deferred tax assets:
  – deferred tax assets to be recovered after 12 months 
  – deferred tax assets to be recovered within 12 months 

Subtotal 

Deferred tax liabilities:
  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled after 12 months 
  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled within 12 months 

Subtotal 

Net deferred tax liabilities 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

9,528 
2,639 

12,167 

4,219
2,027

6,246

(26,850) 
(2,270) 

(24,130)
(1,491)

(29,120) 

(25,621)

(16,953) 

(19,375)

29  NET PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY

Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company is recognised in the financial statements of the Company 
to the extent of RMB32,638 million (2014: RMB28,271 million).

30  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 2015 are based on the net profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders 
of  the  Company  and  the  weighted  average  number  of  28,264,705,000  ordinary  shares  (2014:  28,264,705,000 
ordinary shares).

188

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

31  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

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 HKD5.33 and HKD6.83, 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.  The  exercise  prices  of  stock  appreciation  rights  were  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.

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  the  date  of  award  and  will  not 
be  exercisable  before  the  fourth  anniversary  of  the  date  of  award  unless  specific  market  or  other  conditions  have 
been met. On 26 February 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company extended the exercise period of all stock 
appreciation rights, which is also subject to government policy.

All  the  stock  appreciation  rights  awarded  were  fully  vested  as  at  31  December  2015.  As  at  31  December  2015, 
there  were  55.01  million  units  outstanding  and  exercisable  (as  at  31  December  2014:  55.01  million).  As  at  31 
December 2015, the amount of intrinsic value for the vested stock appreciation rights was RMB832 million (as at 
31 December 2014: RMB1,012 million).

The  fair  value  of  the  stock  appreciation  rights  is  estimated  on  the  date  of  valuation  at  each  reporting  date  using 
lattice-based option valuation models based on expected volatility from 25% to 45%, an expected dividend yield of 
no higher than 2% and a risk-free interest rate ranging from 0.05% to 0.25%.

The Company recognised a gain of RMB180 million in the net fair value through profit or loss in the consolidated 
comprehensive income representing the fair value change of the rights during the year ended 31 December 2015 
(2014:  fair  value  loss  of  RMB255  million).  RMB832  million  and  RMB13  million  were  included  in  salary  and 
staff  welfare  payable  included  under  other  liabilities  for  the  units  not  exercised  and  exercised  but  not  paid  as  at 
31  December  2015  (as  at  31  December  2014:  RMB1,012  million  and  RMB13  million),  respectively.  There  was 
no unrecognised compensation cost for the stock appreciation rights as at 31 December 2015 (as at 31 December 
2014: Nil).

32  DIVIDENDS

Pursuant  to  the  shareholders’  approval  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  on  28  May  2015,  a  final  dividend  of 
RMB0.40  (inclusive  of  tax)  per  ordinary  share  totalling  RMB11,306  million  in  respect  of  the  year  ended  31 
December  2014  was  declared  and  paid  in  2015.  The  dividend  has  been  recorded  in  the  consolidated  financial 
statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

A distribution of RMB185 (inclusive of tax) million to the holders of Core Tier 2 Capital Securities was approved 
by the management according to the authorization by the Board of Directors in 2015.

Pursuant  to  a  resolution  passed  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  on  23  March  2016,  a  final  dividend  of 
RMB0.42  (inclusive  of  tax)  per  ordinary  share  totalling  approximately  RMB11,871  million  for  the  year  ended 
31  December  2015  was  proposed  for  shareholders’  approval  at  the  forthcoming  Annual  General  Meeting.  The 
dividend has not been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

189

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

(a)  Related parties

The  table  below  summarises  the  names  of  significant  related  parties  and  nature  of  relationship  with  the 
Company as at 31 December 2015:

Significant related parties

Relationship with the Company

CLIC
AMC
China Life Pension Company Limited (“Pension 

Company”)

Immediate and ultimate holding company
A subsidiary of the Company
A subsidiary of the Company

China Life (Suzhou) Pension and Retirement Investment 

A subsidiary of the Company

Company Limited (“Suzhou Pension Company”)

Golden Phoenix Tree Limited
Shanghai Rui Chong Investment Co., Limited 

(“Rui Chong Company”) (i)

AMC HK
CL AMP
King Phoenix Tree Limited
China Life Wealth Management Co., Limited (“CL 

Wealth”)
Sino-Ocean
CGB
CLP&C
COFCO Futures
Annoroad Technology
10 Upper Bank Street SLP
Sanya Company
China Life Real Estate Co., Limited (“CLRE”)
China Life Insurance (Overseas) Company Limited (“CL 

Overseas”)

A subsidiary of the Company
A subsidiary of the Company

An indirect subsidiary of the Company
An indirect subsidiary of the Company
An indirect subsidiary of the Company
An indirect subsidiary of the Company

An associate of the Company
An associate of the Company
An associate of the Company
An associate of the Company
An associate of the Company
A joint venture of the Company
A joint venture of the Company
Under common control of CLIC
Under common control of CLIC

China Life Investment Holding Company Limited (“CLI”)
China Life Ecommerce Company Limited (“CL 

Under common control of CLIC
Under common control of CLIC

Ecommerce”)

China Life Enterprise Annuity Fund (“EAP”)

A  pension  fund  jointly  set  up  by  the  Company  and 

CL AMP Zunxiang Bond Securities Investment Fund

A directly and indirectly held consolidated

structured entity of the Company

CL AMP Zengjinbao Money Market Fund

A directly held consolidated structured entity of the 

others

CL AMP Xinqianbao Money Market Fund

Company

A directly and indirectly held consolidated 

structured entity of the Company

Shang Xin Lv Di Collective Fund Trust Scheme

A directly and indirectly held consolidated

structured entity of the Company

Jiao Yin Guo Xin – Wen Jian No. 798 Collective Fund 

A directly held consolidated structured entity of the 

Trust Scheme (the second batch)

Company

Jiao Yin Guo Xin – Wen Jian No. 1119 Collective Fund 

A directly held consolidated structured entity of the 

Trust Scheme

Company

Shang Xin Jing Neng Jin Tai Indemnificatory Housing 

A directly held consolidated structured entity of the 

Collective Fund Trust Scheme

Company

(i) 

Rui Chong Company was incorporated in 2015.

190

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(b)  Related parties with control relationship
Information of the parent company is as follows:

Name

CLIC

Location of 
registration Principal business

Relationship with 
the company

Nature of 
ownership

Legal 
representative

Immediate and 
ultimate holding 
company

State-owned

Yang
Mingsheng

Beijing, 
China

Insurance services including receipt 
of premiums and payment of 
benefits in respect of the in-force 
life, health, accident and other types 
of personal insurance business, and 
the reinsurance business; holding or 
investing in domestic and overseas 
insurance companies or other 
financial insurance institutions; fund 
management business permitted 
by national laws and regulations 
or approved by the State Council 
of the People’s Republic of China; 
and other businesses approved by 
insurance regulatory agencies.

Refer to Note 39(c) for the basic and related information of subsidiaries.

(c)  Registered capital of related parties with control relationship and changes during the year

Name of related party 

CLIC 
AMC 
Pension Company 
Suzhou Pension Company (i) 
CL AMP 
CL Wealth 
Rui Chong Company 

As at 31  
December 2014 
RMB million 

Increase 
RMB million 

Decrease 
RMB million 

As at 31 
December 2015
RMB million

4,600 
4,000 
2,500 
300 
588 
200 
– 

– 
– 
900 
– 
– 
– 
6,800 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

4,600
4,000
3,400
300
588
200
6,800

(i) 

In  December  2015,  the  Company  completed  a  RMB500  million  capital  contribution  to  Suzhou 
Pension Company. After the contribution, the paid-in capital of Suzhou Pension Company increased 
from RMB300 million to RMB800 million. As at 31 December 2015, since the business registration 
modification  procedure  for  Suzhou  Pension  Company  was  still  in  progress,  the  registered  capital 
remained RMB300 million.

191

 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(c)  Registered capital of related parties with control relationship and changes during the year 

(continued)
(ii)  AMC HK and Golden Phoenix Tree Limited were registered in Hong Kong, and King Phoenix Tree 
Limited was registered in the Jersey Island, so the legal definition of registered capital is not applicable 
for them.

(d)  Percentages of holding of related parties with control relationship and changes during the 

year

Shareholder

As at 31 December 2014 
Percentage 
Amount 
of holding 
million 

Increase 
million 

Decrease 
million 

As at 31 December 2015
Percentage
Amount 
of holding
million 

CLIC 

RMB19,324 

68.37% 

– 

– 

RMB19,324 

68.37%

Subsidiaries

As at 31 December 2014 
Percentage 
Amount 
of holding 
million 

Increase 
million 

Decrease 
million 

As at 31 December 2015
Percentage
Amount 
of holding
million 

AMC 

RMB1,680 

Pension Company 

RMB2,746 

AMC HK 

HKD30 

Suzhou Pension Company 

RMB300 

CL AMP 

CL Wealth 

Golden Phoenix Tree Limited 

King Phoenix Tree Limited 

Rui Chong Company 

RMB500 

RMB200 

– 

– 

– 

60.00% 
directly 
74.27% 
 directly 
and indirectly 
50.00% 
 indirectly 
100.00% 
 directly 
85.03% 
 indirectly 
100.00% 
 indirectly 
100.00% 
 directly 
100.00% 
 indirectly 
– 

– 

– 

– 

RMB500 

– 

– 

– 

– 

RMB6,199 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

RMB1,680 

RMB2,746 

HKD30 

RMB800 

RMB500 

RMB200 

– 

– 

RMB6,199 

60.00% 
directly
74.27% 
directly
and indirectly
50.00% 
indirectly
100.00% 
directly
85.03% 
indirectly
100.00% 
indirectly
100.00% 
directly
100.00% 
indirectly
100.00%
 directly

192

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  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:

Notes 

(i)(viii) 
(ii.a) 

(ii.b) 
(ii.c) 

(iii)(viii) 
(iii) 

(iv) 

(ix) 
(ii.d)(viii) 

(vi) 

(v) 

Transactions with CLIC and its subsidiaries
  Policy management fee received from CLIC 
  Asset management fee received from CLIC 
  Payment of dividends from the Company to CLIC 
  Distribution of profits from AMC to CLIC 
  Asset management fee received from CL Overseas 
  Asset management fee received from CLP&C 
  Payment of insurance premium to CLP&C 
  Claim and other payments received from CLP&C 
  Agency fee received from CLP&C 
  Payment of an agency fee to CLP&C 
  Rental and a service fee received from CLP&C 
  Payment of rental, project fee and others expenses to CLRE 
  Property leasing expenses charged by CLI 
  Asset management fee received from CLI 
  Payment to CLI for purchase of fixed assets 
  Payment of an asset management fee to CLI 
  Property leasing income received from CLI 
  Payment of a business management service fee to CL Ecommerce 

Transactions between CGB and the Group
Interest on deposits received from CGB 
  Commission expenses charged by CGB 

Transactions between Sino-Ocean and the Group
  Scrip dividend from Sino-Ocean 
  Cash dividend from Sino-Ocean (Note 8) 

Interest payment of subordinated debts and corporate
  bonds received from Sino-Ocean 

  Project management fee paid to Sino-Ocean 

Transactions between EAP and the Group
  Contribution to EAP 

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

950 
133 
7,729 
106 
39 
26 
51 
17 
1,464 
4 
49 
38 
84 
17 
97 
167 
38 
29 

524 
15 

– 
422 

34 
59 

303 

987
128
5,797
91
30
11
50
18
1,013
4
41
35
86
14
79
89
29
–

838
8

268
131

25
34

286

193

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

Notes 

Transactions between AMC and the Company
  Payment of an asset management fee to AMC 
  Distribution of profits from AMC 

(ii.e)(viii) 

1,020 
158 

Transactions between Pension Company and the Company
  Rental received from Pension Company 
  Agency fee received from Pension Company for entrusted

sales of annuity funds 

  Marketing fee income for promotion of annuity business

from Pension Company 

Transactions between AMC HK and the Company
  Payment of an investment management fee to AMC HK 

Transactions between the Group’s consolidated trust

schemes and the Company

  Distribution from the Group’s consolidated trust

schemes to the Company 

Notes:

(vii) 

(ii.f) 

24 

20 

14 

14 

187 

886
137

23

12

19

11

–

(i) 

On  29  December  2014,  the  Company  and  CLIC  signed  a  renewable  insurance  agency  agreement,  effective  from 

1  January  2015  to  31  December  2017.  The  agreement  was  subject  to  an  automatic  three-year  renewal  if  no 

objections  were  raised  by  both  parties.  The  Company  performs  its  duties  of  insurance  agents  in  accordance  with 

the agreement, but does not acquire any rights and profits or assume any obligations, losses and risks as an insurer 

of  the  non-transferrable  policies.  The  policy  management  fee  was  payable  semi-annually,  and  is  equal  to  the  sum 

of (1) the number of policies in force as at the last day of the period, multiplied by RMB8.00 per policy and (2) 

2.50%  of  the  actual  premiums  and  deposits  received  during  the  period,  in  respect  of  such  policies.  The  policy 

management fee income is included in other income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

(ii.a)  On 31 December 2014, CLIC signed an asset management agreement with AMC, entrusting AMC to manage and 

make investments of its insurance funds. The agreement is effective from the signing date to 31 December 2015. 

In  accordance  with  the  agreement,  CLIC  paid  AMC  a  basic  service  fee  at  the  rate  of  0.05%  per  annum  for  the 

management  of  insurance  funds.  The  service  fee  was  calculated  and  payable  on  a  monthly  basis,  by  multiplying 

the  average book  value  of the  assets  under management  (after deducting  the  funds obtained  and interests  accrued 

for from repurchase transactions, debt and equity investment schemes, project asset-backed schemes, the principal 

and interests of customized non-standard products) at the beginning and the end of any given month by the rate of 

0.05%, divided by 12. At the end of each year, CLIC assessed the investment performance of the assets managed by 

AMC, compared actual results against benchmark returns and made adjustment to the basic service fee.

194

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

Notes (continued):

(ii.b)  On 24 January 2014, CL Overseas renewed an investment management agreement with AMC HK, effective from 

1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014. On 27 April 2015, agreed by both parties, the agreement was automatically 

renewed  for  another  year.  In  accordance  with  the  agreement,  CL  Overseas  entrusted  AMC  HK  to  manage  and 

make investments of its insurance funds and paid AMC HK a basic investment management fee and an investment 

performance  fee.  The  basic  investment  management  fee  was  accrued  by  multiplying  the  weighted  average  total 

funds  by  the  basic  fee  rate.  The  investment  performance  fee  was  calculated  based  on  the  difference  between  total 

actual annual yield and predetermined net realized yield. The basic investment management fee was calculated and 

payable on a semi-annual basis. The investment performance fee was payable according to the total actual annual 
yield at the end of each year.

(ii.c)  In  2015,  CLP&C  signed  an  agreement  for  the  management  of  insurance  funds  with  AMC,  entrusting  AMC  to 

manage  and  make  investments  of  its  insurance  funds.  The  agreement  was  effective  from  1  January  2015  to  31 

December  2016.  In  accordance  with  the  agreement,  CLP&C  paid  AMC  a  fixed  service  fee  and  a  variable  service 

fee. The fixed service fee was calculated and payable on a monthly basis, by multiplying the average net asset value 

of  each  category  assets  under  management  at  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  any  given  month  by  the  responding 

annual  investment  management  fee  rate,  divided  by  12.  The  variable  service  fee  was  linked  to  investment 

performance.

(ii.d)  On  31  December  2014,  the  Company  and  CLI  signed  a  management  agreement  of  alternative  investment  of 

insurance  funds,  which  was  effective  for  1  year  from  1  January  2015.  In  accordance  with  the  agreement,  the 

Company  entrusted  CLI  to  engage  in  specialized  investment,  operation  and  management  of  equities,  real  estates 

and  related  financial  products,  securitized  financial  products  under  the  instructions  of  the  annual  guidelines.  The 

Company paid CLI an asset management fee and a performance related bonus based on the agreement. For fixed-

income  projects,  the  management  fee  rate  is  0.05%-0.6%  according  to  a  different  range  of  returns  and  without 

performance  related  bonus;  for  non-fixed-income  projects,  the  management  fee  rate  is  0.3%  and  the  performance 

related bonus was linked to the return on comprehensive investment upon expiry of the project.

(ii.e)  On  27  December  2012,  the  Company  and  AMC  entered  into  a  renewable  agreement  for  the  management  of 

insurance funds, effective from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2014. The agreement was subject to an automatic 

one-year  renewal  if  no  objections  were  raised  by  both  parties  upon  expiry.  The  agreement  was  automatically 

renewed  for  1  year  from  1  January  2015.  In  accordance  with  the  agreement,  the  Company  entrusted  AMC  to 

manage  and  make  investments  of  its  insurance  funds  and  paid  AMC  a  fixed  service  fee  and  a  variable  service  fee. 

The  fixed  annual  service  fee  was  calculated  and  payable  on  a  monthly  basis,  by  multiplying  the  average  net  value 

of the assets under management by the rate of 0.05%; the variable service fee was payable annually, based on the 

results of performance evaluation, at 20% of the fixed service fee per annum. The service fees were determined by 

the Company and AMC based on an analysis of the cost of service, market practice and the size and composition 

of  the  asset  pool  to  be  managed.  Asset  management  fees  charged  to  the  Company  by  AMC  are  eliminated  in  the 

consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

195

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

Notes (continued):

(ii.f)  On  19  September  2013,  the  Company  and  AMC  HK  renewed  the  offshore  investment  management  service 

agreement, effective for two years starting from the signing date. The agreement was subject to an automatic one-

year renewal if no objections were raised by both parties upon expiry. On 19 September 2015, the agreement was 

automatically renewed for another one year. In accordance with the agreement, the Company entrusted AMC HK 

to  manage  and  make  investment  of  its  insurance  funds  and  paid  AMC  HK  an  asset  management  fee.  The  asset 

management fee was calculated at a fixed rate of 0.40% of portfolio asset value and a performance bonus capped at 

0.15% of portfolio asset value for assets managed on a discretionary basis. Management fees on assets managed on 

a non-discretionary basis are calculated at 0.05% of portfolio asset value. The above management fee was calculated 
based on the net value of the entrusted asset from the monthly reports provided by the trustee, without deducting 

the monthly management fee payable. The fixed management fee was calculated monthly and payable quarterly. A 

performance bonus was calculated and payable on an annual basis. Asset management fees charged to the Company 

by AMC HK are eliminated in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

(iii)  On 8 March 2012, the Company and CLP&C renewed a 2-year framework insurance agency agreement, whereby 

CLP&C entrusted the Company to act as an agent to sell designated P&C insurance products in certain authorized 

jurisdictions.  The  agency  fee  was  determined  based  on  cost  (tax  included)  plus  a  margin.  The  agreement  was 

subject to an automatic one-year renewal if no objections were raised by both parties upon expiry. This agreement 

expired on 7 March 2015.

On  8  March  2015,  the  Company  and  CLP&C  signed  a  new  2-year  framework  insurance  agency  agreement, 

whereby CLP&C entrusted the Company to act as an agent to sell designated P&C insurance products in certain 

authorized jurisdictions. The agency fee was determined based on cost (tax included) plus a margin. The agreement 

was subject to an automatic one-year renewal if no objections were raised by both parties upon expiry.

On  8  April  2012,  the  Company  and  CLP&C  signed  a  2-year  framework  insurance  agency  agreement,  whereby 

the Company entrusted CLP&C to act as an agent to sell designated life insurance products in certain authorised 

jurisdictions.  The  brokerage  fee  was  determined  based  on  cost  (tax  included)  plus  a  margin.  The  agreement  was 

subject to an automatic one-year renewal if no objections were raised by both parties upon expiry. This agreement 

expired on 7 April 2015.

On  8  March  2015,  the  Company  and  CLP&C  signed  a  new  2-year  framework  insurance  agency  agreement, 

whereby  the  Company  entrusted  CLP&C  to  act  as  an  agent  to  sell  designated  life  insurance  products  in  certain 

authorised jurisdictions. The brokerage fee was determined based on market practice. The agreement was subject to 

an automatic one-year renewal if no objections were raised by both parties upon expiry.

(iv)  On  31  December  2014,  the  Company  signed  a  property  leasing  agreement  with  CLI,  effective  till  31  December 

2017,  pursuant  to  which  CLI  leased  to  the  Company  certain  owned  buildings.  Annual  rental  payable  by  the 

Company  to  CLI  in  relation  to  the  CLI  properties  is  determined  either  by  reference  to  the  market  rent,  or,  the 

costs incurred by CLI in holding and maintaining the properties, plus a margin of approximately 5%. The rental 

was paid on a semi-annual basis, and each payment was equal to one half of the total annual rental.

196

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(e)  Transactions with significant related parties (continued)

Notes (continued):

(v)  On  19  April  2012,  the  Company  and  CGB  renewed  an  insurance  agency  agreement  to  distribute  insurance 

products.  All  individual  insurance  products  suitable  for  distribution  through  bancassurance  channels  are  included 

in  the  agreement.  CGB  provides  agency  services,  including  the  selling  of  insurance  products,  and  collecting 

premiums and paying benefits. The Company paid the agency commission by multiplying the net amount of total 

premiums received from sale of each category individual insurance product after deducting the withdrawn policies 

premiums  in  the  hesitation  period,  by  the  responding  fixed  commission  rate.  The  commission  rates  for  various 

insurance  products  sold  by  CGB  are  agreed  based  on  arm’s  length  transactions.  The  commissions  are  payable  on 

a  monthly  basis.  The  agreement  is  effective  for  three  years  and  subject  to  an  automatic  one-year  renewal  with  no 
limitation of times if no objections were raised by either party upon expiry. On 19 April 2015, the agreement was 

automatically renewed for another one year.

(vi)  On  18  March  2015,  the  Company  and  CL  Ecommerce  signed  a  one  year  agreement  for  managing  the  regional 

telemarketing  centre,  effective  on  the  signing  date.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  the  Company  entrusted  CL 

Ecommerce  to  manage  the  operation  of  its  telemarketing  centre,  and  paid  the  management  fee  accordingly.  The 

total amount of the management fee is not expected to exceed RMB100 million, but is still pending for negotiation 

between the two parties based on the actual circumstance.

(vii)  On 27 November 2014, the Company and Pension Company signed an agency agreement for the distribution and 

customer service of enterprise annuity funds, pension management business and occupational pension management 

business.  The  agreement  was  effective  from  28  November  2014  and  expiry  after  1  year,  and  was  subject  to  an 

automatic  one-year  renewal  if  no  objections  were  raised  by  either  party  upon  expiry.  On  28  November  2015, 

the  agreement  was  automatically  renewed  for  another  one  year.  The  commissions  for  the  entrusting  service  of 

enterprise  annuity  fund  management,  which  is  the  core  business  of  Pension  Company,  are  calculated  at  30% 

to  80%  of  the  annual  entrusting  management  fee  revenues,  depending  on  the  duration  of  the  agreement.  The 

commissions for account management service are calculated at 60% of the first year’s account management fee and 

were only charged for the first year, regardless of the duration of the agreement. The commissions for investment 

management service, in accordance with the duration of the agreement, are calculated at 60% to 3% of the annual 

investment management fee (excluding risk reserves for investment), and decreased annually. The calculation base, 

method and charge rate for the agency fee of occupation annuity should refer to that of enterprise annuity funds. 

The  charge  rate  for  the  agency  fee  of  group  pension  plan  is  in  line  with  that  of  the  investment  management  fee 

of  enterprise  annuity  funds.  The  agency  fee  of  personal  pension  plan  is  30%  of  the  daily  management  fee  of  the 

personal pension plan annually.

(viii)  These transactions constitute continuing connected transactions which are subject to reporting and announcement 

requirements  but  are  exempt  from  independent  shareholders’  approval  requirements  under  Chapter  14A  of  the 

Listing Rules. The Company has complied with the disclosure requirements in accordance with Chapter 14A of the 

Listing Rules.

(ix)  The  transaction  constitutes  a  one-off  connected  transaction  which  is  subject  to  reporting  and  announcement 

requirements  but  is  exempt  from  independent  shareholders’  approval  requirements  under  Chapter  14A  of  the 

Listing Rules. The Company has complied with the disclosure requirements in accordance with Chapter 14A of the 

Listing Rules.

197

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(f)  Amounts due from/to significant related parties

The  following  table  summarises  the  balances  due  from  and  to  significant  related  parties.  The  balances  are 
non-interest  bearing,  unsecured  and  have  no  fixed  repayment  dates  except  for  the  deposits  with  CGB  and 
the subordinated debts and corporate bonds issued by Sino-Ocean.

The resulting balance due from and to significant related parties of the Group
  Amount due from CLIC 
  Amount due to CLIC 
  Amount due from CL Overseas 
  Amount due from CLP&C 
  Amount due to CLP&C 
  Amount due from CLI 
  Amount due to CLI 
  Amount due from CLRE 
  Amount due to CLRE 
  Amount deposited with CGB 
  Amount due from CGB 
  Amount due to CGB 
  Subordinated debts and corporate bonds of Sino-Ocean 
  Amount due from CL Ecommerce 
  Amount due to CL Ecommerce 
The resulting balance due from and to subsidiaries of the Company
  Amount due from Pension Company 
  Amount due to Pension Company 
  Amount due to AMC 
  Amount due to AMC HK 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

526 
(1) 
21 
203 
(2) 
16 
(71) 
2 
(1) 
9,660 
194 
(13) 
872 
4 
(40) 

50 
(6) 
(325) 
(7) 

541
(1)
15
114
(6)
12
(49)
2
–
16,287
296
(1)
260
–
–

48
(5)
(225)
(3)

198

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

33  SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

(g)  Key management personnel compensation

For the year ended 31 December
2014
RMB million

2015 
RMB million 

Salaries and other benefits 

14 

25

The  total  compensation  package  for  the  Company’s  key  management  personnel  for  the  year  ended  31 
December  2015  has  not  yet  been  finalised  in  accordance  with  regulations  of  the  relevant  PRC  authorities. 
The final compensation will be disclosed in a separate announcement when determined. The compensation 
of 2014 has been approved by the relevant authorities. The total compensation of 2014 was RMB25 million, 
including a deferred payment about RMB5 million.

(h)  Transactions with state-owned enterprises

Under  IAS  24  Related  Party  Disclosures  (“IAS  24”),  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  is  insurance  and 
investment  related  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  has 
applied IAS 24 exemption and disclosed only qualitative information.

As at 31 December 2015, most of the bank deposits of the Group 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 2015, a large portion of its group insurance business of the Group were with 
state-owned enterprises;  the majority of bancassurance commission charges were  paid  to  state-owned  banks 
and postal office; and almost all of the reinsurance agreements of the Group were entered into with a state-
owned reinsurance company.

34  SHARE CAPITAL

As at 31 December 2015 

As at 31 December 2014

No. of shares 

RMB million 

No. of shares 

RMB million

Registered, authorised, issued and fully paid
Ordinary shares of RMB1 each 

28,264,705,000 

28,265 

28,264,705,000 

28,265

199

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

34  SHARE CAPITAL (continued)

As at 31 December 2015, the Company’s share capital was as follows:

Owned by CLIC (i) 
Owned by other equity holders 
Including: Domestic listed 

  Overseas listed (ii) 

Total 

As at 31 December 2015

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

(i) 

All shares owned by CLIC are domestic listed shares.

(ii)  Overseas listed shares are traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and the New York Stock Exchange.

35  OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS

(a)  Basic information

As at 31 
December 2014 

Increase 

Decrease 

As at 31
December 2015

Quantity million 

RMB million  Quantity million 

RMB million  Quantity million 

RMB million  Quantity million 

RMB million

Core Tier 2 Capital Securities 

Total 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1,280 

1,280 

7,791 

7,791 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1,280 

1,280 

7,791

7,791

The Company issued Core Tier 2 Capital Securities at par with the nominal value of USD1,280 million on 
3 July 2015, and obtained an approval to list such securities on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, 
effective  on  6  July  2015.  After  a  deduction  of  the  issue  expense,  the  total  amount  of  the  proceeds  raised 
from  this  issuance  was  USD1,274  million  or  RMB7,791  million.  The  issued  capital  securities  have  a  term 
of  60  years,  extendable  upon  expiry.  The  initial  distribution  rate  for  the  first  five  interest-bearing  years  is 
4.00%, and the Company may redeem the securities at its option at the end of the fifth year after issuance. 
If the Company does not exercise this option, the rate of distribution will be reset based on comparable US 
treasury yield plus a margin of 2.294% at the end of the fifth year and every five years thereafter.

200

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

35  OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS (continued)

(b)  Equity attributable to equity holders

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company 
  Equity attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company 
  Equity attributable to other equity instruments holders of the Company 
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests 
  Equity attributable to ordinary equity holders of non-controlling interests 

322,492 
314,701 
7,791 
3,722 
3,722 

284,121
284,121
–
3,210
3,210

Refer  to  Note  32  for  the  information  of  distribution  to  other  equity  instruments  holders  of  the  Company 
for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015.  As  at  31  December  2015,  there  were  no  accumulated  distributions 
unpaid attributable to other equity instruments holders of the Company.

36  RESERVES

  Share of other
Unrealised  comprehensive
 income  
of investees  
under  
the equity  
method 

gains/ 
(losses) from  
available- 
for-sale  
securities 

Share 
 premium 

Other 
reserves 

Total
RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million  RMB million

Exchange
  differences on
translating 
 foreign
operations 

General 
reserve 

Statutory   Discretionary  
reserve  
fund 

reserve 
fund 

(a) 

(b) 

(c)

As at 1 January 2014 
Other comprehensive income for the year 
Appropriation to reserves 
Others 

53,860 
– 
– 
– 

(9) 
– 
– 
826 

(15,835) 
39,089 
– 
– 

(327) 
143 
– 
– 

21,641 
– 
3,160 
– 

19,157 
– 
2,470 
– 

18,545 
– 
3,202 
– 

(3) 
– 
– 
– 

97,029
39,232
8,832
826

As at 31 December 2014 

53,860 

817 

23,254 

(184) 

24,801 

21,627 

21,747 

(3) 

145,919

As at 1 January 2015 
Other comprehensive income for the year 
Appropriation to reserves 
Others 

53,860 
– 
– 
– 

817 
– 
– 
296 

23,254 
6,709 
– 
– 

(184) 
364 
– 
– 

24,801 
– 
3,438 
– 

21,627 
– 
3,160 
– 

21,747 
– 
3,492 
– 

(3) 
3 
– 
– 

145,919
7,076
10,090
296

As at 31 December 2015 

53,860 

1,113 

29,963 

180 

28,239 

24,787 

25,239 

– 

163,381

201

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

36  RESERVES (continued)

(a) 

Pursuant to the relevant PRC laws, the Company appropriated 10% of its net profit under Chinese Accounting Standards 

(“CAS”)  to  statutory  reserve  which  amounted  to  RMB3,438  million  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015  (2014: 

RMB3,160 million).

(b) 

Approved  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  in  May  2015,  the  Company  appropriated  RMB3,160  million  to  the 

discretionary  reserve  fund  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2014  based  on  net  profit  under  CAS  (2014:  RMB2,470 

million).

(c) 

Pursuant to “Financial Standards of Financial Enterprises-Implementation Guide” issued by the Ministry of Finance of the 
PRC on 30 March 2007, for the year ended 31 December 2015, the Company appropriated 10% of net profit under CAS 

which amounted to RMB3,438 million to the general reserve for future uncertain catastrophes, which cannot be used for 

dividend  distribution  or  conversion  to  share  capital  increment  (2014:  RMB3,160  million).  In  addition,  pursuant  to  the 

CAS, the Group appropriated RMB54 million to the general reserve of its subsidiaries attributable to the Company in the 

consolidated financial statements (2014: RMB42 million).

Under related PRC law, dividends may be paid only out of distributable profits. Any distributable profits that are 
not distributed in a given year are retained and available for distribution in subsequent years.

37  PROVISIONS AND CONTINGENCIES

The following is a summary of the significant contingent liabilities:

Pending lawsuits 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

440 

389

The  Group  involves  in  certain  lawsuits  arising  from  the  ordinary  course  of  businesses.  In  order  to  accurately 
disclose the contingent liabilities for pending lawsuits, the Group analysed all pending lawsuits case by case at the 
end of each reporting period. A provision will only be recognised if management determines, based on third-party 
legal advice, that the Group has present obligations and the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow 
of  the  Group’s  resources  embodying  economic  benefits,  and  the  amount  of  such  obligations  could  be  reasonably 
estimated.  Otherwise,  the  Group  will  disclose  the  pending  lawsuits  as  contingent  liabilities.  As  at  31  December 
2015  and  2014,  the  Group  had  other  contingent  liabilities  but  disclosure  of  such  was  not  practical  because  the 
amounts of liabilities could not be reliably estimated and were not material in aggregate.

202

 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

38  COMMITMENTS

(a)  Capital commitments

The  Group  had  the  following  capital  commitments  relating  to  property  development  projects  and 
investments:

Contracted, but not provided for

Investments 

  Property, plant and equipment 
  Others 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

30,453 
5,820 
34 

23,929
9,887
87

36,307 

33,903

(b)  Operating lease commitments – as lessee

The future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Not later than one year 
Later than one year but not later than five years 
Later than five years 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

534 
721 
20 

549
753
10

1,275 

1,312

The  operating  lease  payments  charged  to  profit  before  income  tax  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015 
were RMB857 million (2014: RMB774 million).

(c)  Operating lease commitments – as lessor

The future minimum rentals receivable under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

258 
253 
13 

524 

207
361
17

585

Not later than one year 
Later than one year but not later than five years 
Later than five years 

Total 

203

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS

Statement of financial position
As at 31 December 2015

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

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

26,421 
1,296 
11,843 
27,810 
503,489 
203,152 
560,807 
5,653 
766,799 
135,733 
21,461 
49,385 
11,913 
1,420 
16,294 
74,750 

24,792
1,345
11,705
27,044
516,710
165,913
685,471
5,653
605,245
38,822
11,841
43,981
11,166
1,032
17,969
42,984

Notes 

39(a) 
39(b) 
39(c) 
39(d) 
39(e) 
39(f) 
39(g) 
39(h) 
39(i) 
39(j) 
39(k) 
39(l) 
11 
12 
39(m) 

Total assets 

2,418,226 

2,211,673

204

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

Statement of financial position (continued)
As at 31 December 2015

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities
Insurance contracts 
Investment contracts 
Policyholder dividends payable 
Bonds payable 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Annuity and other insurance balances payable 
Premiums received in advance 
Other liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Current income tax liabilities 
Statutory insurance fund 

Total liabilities 

Equity
Share capital 
Other equity instruments 
Reserves 
Retained earnings 

Total equity 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

Notes 

14 
15 

17 
39(n) 

39(o) 
39(p) 

20 

34 
39(q) 
39(r) 

1,715,985 
84,106 
107,774 
67,994 
30,368 
30,092 
32,266 
23,182 
16,883 
5,256 
217 

1,603,446
72,275
74,745
67,989
44,538
25,617
15,850
19,431
19,023
–
223

2,114,123 

1,943,137

28,265 
7,791 
161,672 
106,375 

28,265
–
145,006
95,265

304,103 

268,536

Total liabilities and equity 

2,418,226 

2,211,673

205

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(a)  Property, plant and equipment

Office
equipment
furniture 
and fixtures 

Buildings 

Assets under 
construction 

Motor 
vehicles 
RMB million

Leasehold
improvements 

Cost
As at 1 January 2015 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

22,114 
1,486 
51 
(64) 

6,527 
6 
341 
(393) 

1,373 
– 
128 
(133) 

6,332 
(1,680) 
2,955 
(63) 

1,222 
166 
8 
(114) 

Total

37,568
(22)
3,483
(767)

As at 31 December 2015 

23,587 

6,481 

1,368 

7,544 

1,282 

40,262

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2015 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

(6,469) 
(813) 
33 

(4,382) 
(639) 
369 

(982) 
(134) 
126 

As at 31 December 2015 

(7,249) 

(4,652) 

(990) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2015 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2015 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2015 

(24) 
– 
– 

(24) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

15,621 

2,145 

As at 31 December 2015 

16,314 

1,829 

– 
– 
– 

– 

391 

378 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

(919) 
(115) 
108 

(12,752)
(1,701)
636

(926) 

(13,817)

– 
– 
– 

– 

(24)
–
–

(24)

6,332 

303 

24,792

7,544 

356 

26,421

206

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(a)  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

Office
equipment
furniture 
and fixtures 

Buildings 

Assets under 
construction 

Motor 
vehicles 
RMB million

Leasehold
improvements 

Cost
As at 1 January 2014 
Transfers upon completion 
Additions 
Disposals 

19,286 
2,781 
175 
(128) 

6,606 
268 
336 
(683) 

1,429 
– 
2 
(58) 

6,125 
(3,194) 
3,613 
(212) 

1,142 
100 
12 
(32) 

Total

34,588
(45)
4,138
(1,113)

As at 31 December 2014 

22,114 

6,527 

1,373 

6,332 

1,222 

37,568

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2014 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

(5,764) 
(762) 
57 

(4,275) 
(761) 
654 

(870) 
(166) 
54 

As at 31 December 2014 

(6,469) 

(4,382) 

(982) 

Impairment
As at 1 January 2014 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

As at 31 December 2014 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2014 

(25) 
– 
1 

(24) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

13,497 

2,331 

As at 31 December 2014 

15,621 

2,145 

– 
– 
– 

– 

559 

391 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

6,125 

6,332 

(836) 
(108) 
25 

(11,745)
(1,797)
790

(919) 

(12,752)

– 
– 
– 

– 

306 

303 

(25)
–
1

(24)

22,818

24,792

207

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(b)  Investment properties

Buildings
RMB million

1,513
–
–

1,513

(168)
(49)
–

(217)

1,345

1,296

2,231

2,415

Cost
As at 1 January 2015 
Additions 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment 

As at 31 December 2015 

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2015 
Charge for the year 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment 

As at 31 December 2015 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2015 

As at 31 December 2015 

Fair value
As at 1 January 2015 

As at 31 December 2015 

208

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(b)  Investment properties (continued)

Cost
As at 1 January 2014 
Additions 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment 

As at 31 December 2014 

Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 January 2014 
Charge for the year 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment 

As at 31 December 2014 

Net book value
As at 1 January 2014 

As at 31 December 2014 

Fair value
As at 1 January 2014 

As at 31 December 2014 

Buildings
RMB million

1,513
–
–

1,513

(119)
(49)
–

(168)

1,394

1,345

2,195

2,231

The fair value of investment properties of the Company as at 31 December 2015 amounted to RMB2,415 
million (as at 31 December 2014: RMB2,231 million), which was estimated by the Company having regards 
to valuations performed by an independent appraiser. The investment properties were classified as Level 3 in 
the fair value hierarchy.

209

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(c) 

Investments in subsidiaries

As at 
31 December 
2015 
RMB million 

As at
31 December
2014
RMB million

Unlisted investments at cost 

11,843 

11,705

(i) 

The  table  below  presents  the  basic  information  of  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  as  at  31  December 
2015:

Name 

AMC 
Pension Company 

Place of
 incorporation 
 and operation 

PRC 
PRC 

AMC HK 
Suzhou Pension Company 

Hong Kong, PRC 
PRC 

CL AMP 
CL Wealth 
Golden Phoenix Tree Limited 
King Phoenix Tree Limited 
Rui Chong Company 

PRC 
PRC 
Hong Kong, PRC 
Jersey Island 
PRC 

Percentage of 
equity interest held 

60.00% directly 
74.27% directly 
and indirectly
50.00% indirectly 
100.00% directly 

85.03% indirectly 
100.00% indirectly 
100.00% directly 
100.00% indirectly 
100.00% directly 

Registered capital 

Principal activities

RMB4,000 million 
RMB3,400 million 

Asset management
Pension and annuity

Not applicable 
RMB300 million 

RMB588 million 
RMB200 million 
Not Applicable 
Not Applicable 
RMB6,800 million 

Asset management
Investment in
 retirement properties
Fund management
Financial service
Investment
Investment
Investment

Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are not significant to the Company.

210

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(c) 

Investments in subsidiaries (continued)
(ii)  The table below presents the basic information of the Company’s consolidated structured entities as at 

31 December 2015:

Name 

Percentage of shares held 

Funds/trust received 

Principal activities

CL AMP Zunxiang Bond Securities   30.68% directly and indirectly 

RMB867 million 

Investment management

Investment Fund

CL AMP Zengjinbao Money  
  Market Fund
CL AMP Xinqianbao Money 
  Market Fund
Shang Xin Lv Di Collective  
  Fund Trust Scheme
Jiao Yin Guo Xin – Wen Jian  
  No. 798 Collective Fund 
  Trust Scheme (the second batch)
Jiao Yin Guo Xin – Wen Jian  
  No. 1119 Collective Fund 
  Trust Scheme
Shang Xin Jing Neng Jin Tai  
Indemnificatory Housing
  Collective Fund Trust Scheme

57.67% directly 

RMB262 million 

Investment management

99.98% directly and indirectly 

RMB257 million 

Investment management

49.00% directly and indirectly 

RMB4,000 million 

Investment management

100.00% directly 

RMB2,000 million 

Investment management

98.00% directly 

RMB500 million 

Investment management

66.67% directly 

RMB1,500 million 

Investment management

(d)  Investments in associates and joint ventures

As at 1 January 
Investments in associates and joint ventures 
Scrip dividend 

As at 31 December 

2015 
RMB million 

2014
RMB million

27,044 
766 
– 

23,976
2,800
268

27,810 

27,044

211

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(e)  Held-to-maturity securities

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Unlisted 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

79,438 
126,097 
145,824 
152,130 

88,843
126,140
146,027
155,700

503,489 

516,710

61,916 
441,573 

68,199
448,511

503,489 

516,710

The estimated fair value of all held-to-maturity securities was RMB550,199 million as at 31 December 2015 
(as at 31 December 2014: RMB525,949 million).

Unlisted debt securities include those traded on the Chinese interbank market.

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 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

2,000 
86,072 
167,290 
248,127 

11,816
70,477
149,837
284,580

503,489 

516,710

212

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

84,959 
118,193 

73,654
92,259

203,152 

165,913

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

90,102 
80,311 
24,039 
8,700 

80,137
53,665
32,111
–

203,152 

165,913

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

179,965 
380,842 
– 

195,529
463,442
26,500

560,807 

685,471

(f)  Loans

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 

Total 

(g)  Term deposits

Maturing:
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 
  After five years but within ten years 

Total 

213

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(h)  Statutory deposits – restricted

Contractual maturity schedule:
  Within one year 
  After one year but within five years 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

300 
5,353 

5,653 

–
5,653

5,653

Insurance  companies  in  China  are  required  to  deposit  an  amount  that  equals  to  20%  of  their  registered 
capital  with  banks  in  conformity  with  regulations  of  the  CIRC.  These  funds  may  not  be  used  for  any 
purpose, other than to pay off debts during liquidation proceedings.

(i)  Available-for-sale securities

Available-for-sale securities, at fair value
  Debt securities

  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Subordinated bonds/debts 
  Others (i) 

  Subtotal 

  Equity securities

  Funds 
  Common stocks 
  Preferred stocks 
  Wealth management products 
  Others (i) 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

25,258 
145,399 
205,149 
19,298 
4,706 

25,913
138,487
205,620
22,798
1,217

399,810 

394,035

162,563 
74,592 
18,712 
50,053 
40,310 

82,714
71,592
3,000
21,038
17,607

  Subtotal 

346,230 

195,951

Available-for-sale securities, at cost
  Equity securities
  Others (i) 

Total 

214

20,759 

15,259

766,799 

605,245

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(i)  Available-for-sale securities (continued)

(i)  Other  available-for-sale  securities  mainly  include  unlisted  equity  investments  and  private  equity 
funds, etc. The Company did not guarantee or provide any financing support for other available-for-
sale securities, and considers that the carrying value of other available-for-sale securities represents its 
maximum risk exposure.

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed in Singapore 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed in Hong Kong, PRC 
  Listed in Singapore 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

41,549 
266 
357,995 

45,707
260
348,068

399,810 

394,035

85,403 
8,391 
172 
273,023 

71,548
8,303
–
131,359

366,989 

211,210

766,799 

605,245

Unlisted debt securities include those traded on the Chinese interbank market and those not publicly 
traded. Unlisted equity securities include those not traded on stock exchanges, which are mainly open-
ended funds with public market price quotation.

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 

Total 

215

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

32,062 
135,733 
112,012 
120,003 

13,939
139,624
119,987
120,485

399,810 

394,035

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(j)  Securities at fair value through profit or loss

Debt securities
  Government bonds 
  Government agency bonds 
  Corporate bonds 
  Others 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Funds 
  Common stocks 

Subtotal 

Total 

Debt securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed overseas 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Equity securities
  Listed in mainland, PRC 
  Listed in Hong Kong 
  Listed overseas 
  Unlisted 

Subtotal 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

553 
5,218 
86,816 
401 

254
1,728
14,782
–

92,988 

16,764

5,858 
36,887 

499
21,559

42,745 

22,058

135,733 

38,822

8,194 
56 
84,738 

5,098
–
11,666

92,988 

16,764

32,427 
70 
6,099 
4,149 

21,706
–
–
352

42,745 

22,058

135,733 

38,822

Unlisted debt securities include those traded on the Chinese interbank market and those not publicly traded. 
Unlisted equity securities include those not traded on stock exchanges, which are mainly open-ended funds 
with public market price quotation.

216

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(k)  Securities purchased under agreements to sell

Maturing:
  Within 30 days 

Total 

(l)  Accrued investment income

Bank deposits 
Debt securities 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

21,461 

11,841

21,461 

11,841

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

31,612 
15,642 
2,131 

26,935
15,450
1,596

49,385 

43,981

31,129 
18,256 

31,604
12,377

49,385 

43,981

217

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(m)  Other assets

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

5,809 
4,126 
2,520 
936 
756 
2,147 

5,943
3,431
2,281
2,449
625
3,240

16,294 

17,969

10,394 
5,900 

11,906
6,063

16,294 

17,969

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

27,466 
2,902 

40,499
4,039

30,368 

44,538

30,368 
– 

41,538
3,000

30,368 

44,538

Land use rights 
Investments receivable 
Automated policy loans 
Tax refundable 
Due from related parties 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

(n)  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

Interbank market 
Stock exchange market 

Total 

Maturing:
  Within 30 days 
  After 90 days 

Total 

218

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(n)  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (continued)

As  at  31  December  2015,  bonds  with  a  carrying  value  of  RMB28,185  million  (as  at  31  December  2014: 
RMB42,131  million)  were  pledged  as  collateral  for  financial  assets  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase 
resulted from repurchase transactions entered into by the Company in the interbank market.

For  debt  repurchase  transactions  through  the  stock  exchange,  the  Company  is  required  to  deposit  certain 
exchange-traded  bonds  into  a  collateral  pool  with  fair  value  converted  at  a  standard  rate  pursuant  to  the 
stock  exchange’s  regulation  which  should  be  no  less  than  the  balance  of  the  related  repurchase  transaction. 
As  at  31  December  2015,  the  carrying  value  of  securities  deposited  in  the  collateral  pool  was  RMB66,027 
million (as at 31 December 2014: RMB49,308 million). The collateral is restricted from trading during the 
period of the repurchase transaction.

(o)  Other liabilities

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

6,410 
4,561 
2,598 
1,117 
1,045 
845 
634 
484 
5,488 

5,008
4,006
1,919
761
1,044
1,025
778
693
4,197

23,182 

19,431

23,182 
– 

19,431
–

23,182 

19,431

Interest payable to policyholders 
Salary and welfare payable 
Commission and brokerage payable 
Agent deposits 
Interest payable of subordinated debts 
Stock appreciation rights (Note 31) 
Payable to constructors 
Tax payable 
Others 

Total 

Current 
Non-current 

Total 

219

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(p)  Taxation
(i) 

The movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year are as follows:

Deferred tax assets/(liabilities)

Insurance 
RMB million 

Investments 
RMB million 

Others 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

As at 1 January 2014 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other 
  comprehensive income
  – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Portion of fair value changes on
  available-for-sale securities
  attributable to participating
  policyholders 

(11,627) 
552 

5,952 
(1,827) 

– 

(15,762) 

2,759 

– 

As at 31 December 2014 

(8,316) 

(11,637) 

As at 1 January 2015 
(Charged)/credited to net profit 
(Charged)/credited to other
  comprehensive income
  – Available-for-sale securities 
  – Portion of fair value changes on
  available-for-sale securities
  attributable to participating
  policyholders 

(8,316) 
3,673 

(11,637) 
534 

– 

(5,401) 

3,192 

– 

992 
(62) 

– 

– 

930 

930 
142 

– 

– 

(4,683)
(1,337)

(15,762)

2,759

(19,023)

(19,023)
4,349

(5,401)

3,192

As at 31 December 2015 

(1,451) 

(16,504) 

1,072 

(16,883)

220

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(p)  Taxation (continued)

(ii)  The analysis of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities during the year is as follows:

Deferred tax assets:
  – deferred tax assets to be recovered after 12 months 
  – deferred tax assets to be recovered within 12 months 

Subtotal 

Deferred tax liabilities:
  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled after 12 months 
  – deferred tax liabilities to be settled within 12 months 

Subtotal 

Net deferred tax liabilities 

(q)  Other equity instruments

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

9,247 
2,553 

11,800 

4,205
1,929

6,134

(26,500) 
(2,183) 

(23,709)
(1,448)

(28,683) 

(25,157)

(16,883) 

(19,023)

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company 
  Equity attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company 
  Equity attributable to other equity instruments holders of the Company 

304,103 
296,312 
7,791 

268,536
268,536
–

Refer  to  Note  32  for  the  information  of  distribution  to  other  equity  instruments  holders  of  the  Company 
for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015.  As  at  31  December  2015,  there  were  no  accumulated  distributions 
unpaid attributable to other equity instruments holders of the Company.

221

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(r)  Reserves

Unrealised 
gains/(losses)
from 
  available-for-sale  
securities 
RMB million 

Share premium 
RMB million 

Statutory 
reserve fund 
RMB million 

Discretionary  
reserve fund 
RMB million 

General
reserve 
RMB million 

Total
RMB million

As at 1 January 2014 
Other comprehensive
income for the year 
Appropriation to reserves 

53,860 

(15,834) 

21,593 

19,157 

18,429 

97,205

– 
– 

39,011 
– 

– 
3,160 

– 
2,470 

– 
3,160 

39,011
8,790

As at 31 December 2014 

53,860 

23,177 

24,753 

21,627 

21,589 

145,006

As at 1 January 2015 
Other comprehensive
income for the year 
Appropriation to reserves 

53,860 

23,177 

24,753 

21,627 

21,589 

145,006

– 
– 

6,630 
– 

– 
3,438 

– 
3,160 

– 
3,438 

6,630
10,036

As at 31 December 2015 

53,860 

29,807 

28,191 

24,787 

25,027 

161,672

(s)  Provisions and contingencies

The following is a summary of the significant contingent liabilities:

Pending lawsuits 

440 

389

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

222

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

39  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND NOTES TO KEY ITEMS (continued)

(t)  Commitments

(i) 

Capital commitments
Capital commitments of the Company relating to property development projects and investments:

Contracted, but not provided for

Investments 

  Property, plant and equipment 
  Others 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

31,314 
4,851 
34 

23,929
9,887
87

36,199 

33,903

(ii)  Operating lease commitments – as lessee

The future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Not later than one year 
Later than one year but not later than five years 
Later than five years 

Total 

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

495 
644 
20 

494
690
10

1,159 

1,194

(iii)  Operating lease commitments – as lessor

The future minimum rentals receivable under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

As at 31 
December 2015 
RMB million 

As at 31
December 2014
RMB million

272 
261 
13 

546 

222
389
17

628

Not later than one year 
Later than one year but not later than five years 
Later than five years 

Total 

223

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

40  DIRECTORS’,  SUPERVISORS’,  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE’S  AND  SENIOR  MANAGEMENT’S 

REMUNERATION
The  total  compensation  package  for  these  directors,  supervisors,  chief  executive  and  senior  management  for  the 
year  ended  31  December  2015  has  not  yet  been  finalised  in  accordance  with  regulations  of  the  relevant  PRC 
authorities.  The  amount  of  the  compensation  not  provided  for  is  not  expected  to  have  a  significant  impact  on 
the  Group’s  2015  consolidated  financial  statements.  The  final  compensation  will  be  disclosed  in  a  separate 
announcement when determined.

(a)  Directors’ and chief executive’s emoluments

The  aggregate  amounts  of  emoluments  paid  to  directors  and  chief  executive  of  the  Company  for  the  year 
ended 31 December 2015 are as follows:

Name 

Yang Mingsheng 
Lin Dairen 
Miao Jianmin 
Zhang Xiangxian 
Wang Sidong 
Bruce Douglas Moore (i) 
Su Hengxuan (ii) 
Anthony Francis Neoh 
Miao Ping (iii) 
Chang Tso Tung Stephen 
Huang Yiping (iv) 
Xu Hengping (v) 
Xu Haifeng (v) 
Liu Jiade (vi) 
Robinson Drake Pike (vii) 

Remuneration 
 paid 

Benefits in kind 

Pension scheme
contributions 

RMB Thousand

435.2 
397.8 
– 
– 
– 
133.3 
131.1 
300.0 
196.7 
320.0 
320.0 
196.7 
196.7 
– 
160.0 

61.3 
213.4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
99.0 
– 
145.3 
– 
– 
68.2 
63.8 
– 
– 

105.4 
100.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
32.7 
– 
49.2 
– 
– 
49.7 
51.9 
– 
– 

Total

601.9
711.8
–
–
–
133.3
262.8
300.0
391.2
320.0
320.0
314.6
312.4
–
160.0

(i) 

Bruce Douglas Moore retired as independent director on 28 May 2015.

(ii) 

Su Hengxuan resigned as executive director on 8 May 2015.

(iii)  Miao Ping retired as executive director on 28 May 2015.

(iv)  Huang Yiping resigned as independent director on 26 August 2015. The resignation became effective on 7 March 

2016, pursuant to the CIRC’s approval on the qualification of a newly appointed independent director.

(v) 

Xu Hengping and Xu Haifeng were appointed as executive directors on 11 July 2015.

(vi) 

Liu Jiade was appointed as non-executive director on 11 July 2015.

(vii)  Robinson Drake Pike was appointed as independent director on 11 July 2015.

224

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

40  DIRECTORS’,  SUPERVISORS’,  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE’S  AND  SENIOR  MANAGEMENT’S 

REMUNERATION (continued)

(a)  Directors’ and chief executive’s emoluments (continued)

The  aggregate  amounts  of  emoluments  paid  to  directors  and  chief  executive  of  the  Company  for  the  year 
ended 31 December 2014 are as follows:

Name 

Basic salaries 

Performance 
 related 
 bonuses 

Subtotal 
of salary 
  income 

Deferred 
 payment 
included in  
 salary income 

Benefits 
 in kind 
RMB Thousand

Pension 
scheme 
contribution 

Yang Mingsheng 
Wan Feng 
Lin Dairen 
Liu Yingqi 
Miao Jianmin 
Zhang Xiangxian 
Wang Sidong 
Sun Changji 
Bruce Douglas Moore 
Anthony Francis Neoh 
Tang Jianbang 
Su Hengxuan 
Miao Ping 
Chang Tso Tung Stephen 
Huang Yiping 

486.7 
109.5 
436.8 
108.3 
– 
– 
– 
– 
250.0 
250.0 
– 
216.6 
216.6 
62.5 
62.5 

1,072.4 
241.3 
962.4 
238.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
70.0 
50.0 
– 
477.2 
477.2 
17.5 
17.5 

1,559.1 
350.8 
1,399.2 
346.9 
– 
– 
– 
– 
320.0 
300.0 
– 
693.8 
693.8 
80.0 
80.0 

536.2 
120.6 
481.2 
119.3 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
238.6 
238.6 
– 
– 

302.5 
70.1 
275.0 
69.7 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
135.3 
135.3 
– 
– 

98.7 
23.6 
95.9 
23.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
49.0 
49.0 
– 
– 

Deferred
payment 
 included 
   in total 

Actual paid
included
   in total

536.2 
120.6 
481.2 
119.3 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
238.6 
238.6 
– 
– 

1,424.1
323.9
1,288.9
320.8
–
–
–
–
320.0
300.0
–
639.5
639.5
80.0
80.0

Total 

1,960.3 
444.5 
1,770.1 
440.1 
– 
– 
– 
– 
320.0 
300.0 
– 
878.1 
878.1 
80.0 
80.0 

The compensation amounts disclosed above for these directors and the chief executive for the year ended 31 
December 2014 were restated based on the finalised amounts determined during 2015.

The  directors  and  chief  executive  received  the  compensation  amounts  disclosed  above  during  their  term  of 
office in 2015 and 2014.

In  addition  to  the  directors’  emoluments  disclosed  above,  certain  directors  of  the  Company  receive 
emoluments  from  CLIC,  the  amounts  of  which  have  not  been  apportioned  between  their  services  to  the 
Company and their services to CLIC.

225

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

40  DIRECTORS’,  SUPERVISORS’,  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE’S  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 
2015 are as follows:

Name 

Xia Zhihua (i) 
Shi Xiangming 
Yang Cuilian (i) 
Li Xuejun (i) 
Xiong Junhong 
Miao Ping (ii) 
Zhan Zhong (iii) 
Wang Cuifei (iii) 

Remuneration 
 paid 

Benefits in kind 

Pension scheme
contributions 

RMB Thousand

229.5 
1,261.4 
677.6 
732.8 
– 
196.7 
684.3 
559.1 

155.9 
245.6 
163.9 
161.0 
– 
68.4 
87.7 
88.7 

57.6 
96.5 
54.3 
53.8 
– 
51.6 
49.8 
47.8 

Total

443.0
1,603.5
895.8
947.6
–
316.7
821.8
695.6

(i) 

Xia Zhihua, Yang Cuilian and Li Xuejun retired as supervisors on 11 July 2015.

(ii)  Miao Ping was appointed as supervisor on 11 July 2015, and was appointed as the chairman of board of supervisors 

on 24 July 2015.

(iii)  Zhan Zhong and Wang Cuifei were appointed as supervisors on 11 July 2015.

The aggregate amounts of emoluments paid to supervisors of the Company for the year ended 31 December 
2014 are as follows:

Name 

Basic salaries 

Performance 
 related 
 bonuses 

Subtotal 
of salary 
  income 

Deferred 
 payment 
included in  
 salary income 

Benefits 
 in kind 
RMB Thousand

Pension 
scheme 
contribution 

Xia Zhihua 
Shi Xiangming 
Luo Zhongmin 
Yang Cuilian 
Li Xuejun 
Xiong Junhong 

433.1 
615.5 
50.0 
615.5 
589.8 
– 

954.4 
514.4 
12.5 
472.6 
480.2 
– 

1,387.5 
1,129.9 
62.5 
1,088.1 
1,070.0 
– 

477.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

275.6 
288.4 
– 
291.2 
285.3 
– 

95.9 
90.5 
– 
90.2 
88.7 
– 

Deferred
payment 
 included 
   in total 

Actual paid
included
   in total

477.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

1,281.8
1,508.8
62.5
1,469.5
1,444.0
–

Total 

1,759.0 
1,508.8 
62.5 
1,469.5 
1,444.0 
– 

The compensation amounts disclosed above for these supervisors for the year ended 31 December 2014 were 
restated based on the finalised amounts determined during 2015.

The supervisors received the compensation amounts disclosed above during their term of office in 2015 and 
2014.

226

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2015

40  DIRECTORS’,  SUPERVISORS’,  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE’S  AND  SENIOR  MANAGEMENT’S 

REMUNERATION (continued)

(c)  Five highest paid individuals

The  five  individuals  whose  emoluments  were  the  highest  in  the  Company  include  five  supervisors  (2014: 
three directors and one supervisor).

Details of remuneration of the five highest paid individuals are as follows:

Basic salaries, housing allowances, other allowances and benefits in kind 
Pension scheme contributions 

Total 

The emoluments fell within the following bands:

RMB0 – RMB1,000,000 
RMB1,000,001 – RMB2,000,000 
RMB2,000,001 – RMB3,000,000 
RMB3,000,001 – RMB4,000,000 
RMB4,000,001 – RMB4,500,000 

2015 
RMB 
Thousand 

2014
RMB
Thousand

7,347 
476 

7,823 

8,557
489

9,046

Number of individuals

2015 

2014

– 
5 
– 
– 
– 

–
5
–
–
–

For  the  year  ended  31  December  2015,  no  emoluments  have  been  paid  by  the  Company  to  the  directors, 
chief  executive,  supervisors  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 (for the year ended 31 December 2014: Nil).

The emoluments of the five highest paid individuals are the total emoluments paid to them during the year.

There  was  no  arrangement  under  which  a  director,  chief  executive  or  supervisor  waived  or  agreed  to  waive 
any remuneration during the year.

41  EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD

On  29  February  2016,  the  Company  entered  into  an  acquisition  agreement  with  Citigroup  Inc.  (“Citigroup”) 
and  a  tripartite  share  transfer  agreement  with  IBM  Credit  LLC  (“IBM  Credit”)  and  Citigroup.  According  to 
the  agreements,  the  Company  will  acquire  3,648,276,645  shares  of  CGB  from  Citigroup  and  IBM  Credit 
(3,080,479,452  shares  from  Citigroup  and  567,797,193  shares  from  IBM  Credit)  with  a  total  consideration 
of  RMB23.3  billion  at  RMB6.39  per  share.  Upon  the  completion  of  this  transaction,  the  Company  will  hold 
6,728,756,097 shares of CGB, a 43.686% ownership interest. This transaction will not render CGB a consolidated 
subsidiary of the Company. Up to the approval date of these consolidated financial statements, this transaction is 
still pending approval of the relevant regulatory departments.

227

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Embedded Value

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  based  on  a  particular  set  of 
assumptions about future experience.

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 based on the assumptions used 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 basis. 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,  the  calculation  of  embedded  value  and  value  of  one  year’s  sales  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  impact  of  transactions  between  the  Company  and  CLIC, 
CLI, AMC, Pension Company, CLP&C, and etc.

228

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

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:

•	

•	

Net	assets,	defined	as	assets	less	PRC	solvency	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 solvency 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, the risk of operating experience’s fluctuation and the 
economic cost of capital through the use of a risk-adjusted discount rate.

229

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Embedded Value

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.  The  China  Risk  Oriented  Solvency  System  (“C-ROSS”)  requirements  have  not  been  considered  in  the 
embedded value results as of 31 December 2015, as updated Chinese EV guidance under C-ROSS has not been released. 
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  “Towers  Watson’s  review  opinion  report  on  embedded  value” 
section.

On  15  May  2012,  the  Ministry  of  Finance  and  the  State  Administration  of  Taxation  issued  the  “Notice  on  Corporate 
Income  Tax  Deduction  of  Reserves  for  Insurance  Companies”  (Cai  Shui  [2012]  No.  45),  requiring  the  taxation  basis 
to  be  based  on  accounting  profits.  Based  on  the  above  regulation,  in  preparing  the  2015  embedded  value  report,  the 
adjusted net worth has reflected the tax treatment in accordance with accounting profits. When calculating the value of 
in-force  business  and  value  of  one  year’s  sales,  as  there  is  uncertainty  in  the  accounting  liability  assumptions  in  future 
valuation  periods  (such  as  valuation  interest  rates),  correspondingly,  numerous  scenarios  could  be  possible  as  to  future 
accounting  profits.  Consequently,  we  have  adopted  the  profits  based  on  the  solvency  liability  in  projecting  future  tax 
payable in the base scenario. We also disclose the value of in-force business and value of one year’s sales calculated using 
tax  payable  based  on  the  accounting  profits  in  accordance  to  the  “Provisions  on  the  Accounting  Treatment  Related  to 
Insurance Contracts” under one possible scenario in the table 4 of “SENSITIVITY RESULTS”.

ASSUMPTIONS

Economic assumptions:
The  calculations  are  based  upon  assumed  corporate  tax  rate  of  25%  for  all  years.  The  investment  returns  are  assumed 
to  be  grading  from  5.1%  to  5.5%  by  0.1%  every  year  (remaining  level  thereafter).  12%  grading  to  16%  by  1%  every 
year  (remaining  level  thereafter)  of  the  investment  return  is  assumed  to  be  exempt  from  income  tax.  These  investment 
return and tax exempt assumptions are based on the Company’s 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.

230

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Embedded Value

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The embedded value as at 31 December 2015 and the value of one year’s sales for the 12 months to 31 December 2015, 
and their corresponding results as at 31 December 2014 are shown below:

Table 1
Components of Embedded Value and Value of One Year’s Sales 

ITEM  

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) 

RMB million

31 December 
2015 

31 December
2014

268,729 
335,500 
(43,951) 
291,549 
560,277 
35,684 
(4,155) 
31,528 

194,236
300,712
(40,042)
260,670
454,906
26,633
(3,380)
23,253

Notes:  1) Numbers may not be additive due to rounding.

2) Taxable incomes in embedded value and the value of one year’s sales are based on earnings calculated using solvency reserves.

231

 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Embedded Value

VALUE OF ONE YEAR’S SALES BY CHANNEL
The value of one year’s sales by channel is shown below:

Table 2
Value of One Year’s Sales by Channel 

Channel 

Exclusive Individual Agent Channel 
Group Insurance Channel 
Bancassurance Channel 
Total 

Notes:  1) Numbers may not be additive due to rounding.

2) Taxable income is based on earnings calculated using solvency reserves.

RMB million

31 December 
2015 

31 December
2014

28,851 
371 
2,306 
31,528 

21,740
464
1,048
23,253

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China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

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 3
Analysis of Embedded Value Movement in 2015 

ITEM

Embedded Value at Start of Year 
Expected Return on Embedded Value 
Value of New Business in the Period 
Operating Experience Variance 
Investment Experience Variance 
Methodology, Model and Assumption Changes 

A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G  Market Value and Other Adjustments 
H 
I 
J 
K 

Exchange Gains or Losses 
Shareholder Dividend Distribution and Capital Injection 
Other 
Embedded Value as at 31 December 2015 (sum A through J) 

RMB million

454,906
44,956
31,528
2,685
20,591
(5,602)
14,199
745
(3,699)
(34)
560,277

Notes:  1) Numbers may not be additive due to rounding.
2) Items B through J are explained below:

B 

Reflects expected impact of covered business, and the expected return on investments supporting the 2015 opening net 

worth.

C 

Value of new business sales in 2015.

D  Reflects the difference between actual operating experience in 2015 (including mortality, morbidity, lapse, and expenses 

etc.) and the assumptions.

E 

F 

Compares actual with expected investment returns during 2015.

Reflects the effect of projection method, model enhancements and assumption changes.

G  Change  in  the  market  value  adjustment  from  the  beginning  of  year  2015  to  31  December  2015  and  other  related 

adjustments.

H  Reflects the gains or losses due to changes in exchange rate.

I 

J 

Reflects dividends distributed to shareholders and issuance of Core Tier 2 Capital Securities during 2015.

Other miscellaneous items.

233

 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Embedded Value

SENSITIVITY RESULTS
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 4
Sensitivity Results 

RMB million

VALUE OF IN-FORCE  VALUE OF ONE YEAR’S
BUSINESS AFTER COST OF  SALES AFTER COST OF
SOLVENCY MARGIN

SOLVENCY MARGIN 

Base case scenario 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 

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 
10% decrease in lapse rates 
10% increase in morbidity rates 
10% decrease in morbidity rates 
10% increase in claim ratio of short term business 
10% decrease in claim ratio of short term business 
Solvency margin at 150% of statutory minimum 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 

16.  Using 2014 EV assumptions 

17.  Taxable income based on the accounting profit

in accordance to the “Provisions on the Accounting
Treatment Related to Insurance Contracts” under one
possible scenario 

291,549 
278,043 
306,029 
338,279 
245,077 
288,643 
294,454 

289,720 

293,398 
290,806 
292,199 
288,533 
294,595 
291,150 
291,947 
269,973 

297,864 

31,528
29,953
33,222
37,274
25,789
29,372
33,685

31,388

31,669
30,959
32,029
31,355
31,704
30,662
32,395
29,388

32,291

292,818 

31,338

Note:  Taxable income is based on earnings calculated using solvency reserves for Scenarios 1 to 16.

234

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Embedded Value

TOWERS WATSON’S REVIEW OPINION REPORT 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 2015 (“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  Management  Consulting  (Shenzhen)  Co.  Ltd.  Beijing  Branch  (“WTW”)  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:

•	

•	

•	

a	review	of	the	methodology	used	to	develop	the	embedded	value	and	value	of	one	year’s	sales	as	at	31	December	
2015, 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 2015;
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.

235

China Life Insurance Company Limited     Annual Report 2015

Embedded Value

Opinion
Based on the scope of work above, we have concluded that:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

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.  It  is  noted  that  the  China  Risk  Oriented  Solvency 
System  (“C-ROSS”)  requirements  have  not  been  considered  in  the  embedded  value  results  as  of  31  December 
2015, as updated Chinese EV guidance under C-ROSS has not been released. 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
Michael Freeman 

  Wesley Cui

23rd March 2016

236

 
 
In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version of 
this  report,  the  Chinese  version  shall  prevail;  in  case  of  any  discrepancy  between 
the printed version and the website version of this report, the website version shall 
prevail.

The  cover  photo  of  the  printed  version  of  this  report  was  photographed  by  
Mr. Wu Chang, a retired employee of CLIC.

Stock Code: 2628

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Annual Report 2015