China's insurance regulator is working out modalities to allow qualified small and medium-sized insurers to invest directly in the stock market, officials from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) said yesterday.

"We are studying the relevant detailed regulations, and the qualification criteria will be out soon," Su Jianyong, director of the Insurance Fund Investment Supervision Department of the CIRC, told China Daily.

"Risk control would be the top-most item on our agenda," Sun said.