BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pledged Sunday that China will firmly press ahead with the shareholding reform of state-owned commercial banks, reiterating keeping a controlling share in the state's hands.

    The premier made the remark in his report on government work, delivered Sunday at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Session of China's Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.

    "We will introduce advanced foreign management practices, standardize corporate governance, improve internal control and management, and promote structural innovations, " Wen said.

    "The premier's statements show the state's resolve to overhaul the state-owned banks," said Hu Pingxi, president of the Bank of China's Shanghai branch, adding that premier's report also rebuts the doubt that Chinese state-owned banks are facing the risk of being sold cheaply while introducing overseas investors.

    China will not convert the reform directions for its commercialbanks, said Cao Honghui, with Financial Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, "Yet the government should be ready totackle problems appearing during the course of the reforms."

    In the new five-year development blueprint delivered Sunday, China's banks are expected to streamline their operation, upgrade their internal control and reduce the banks' non-performing loans and banking irregularities so as to ensure the basic capital and continue their shareholding reform.