AMERICAN International Group Inc. (AIG), the world’s biggest insurer, is seeking to tie up with China Merchants Bank to expand policy sales in the world’s most populous nation.

　　“We are holding talks with many foreign and domestic financial institutions about possible cooperation,” said Chen Xiaoxian, deputy president at China Merchants Bank, yesterday, identifying American International as one of the companies.

　　Shenzhen-based China Merchants would use its online banking network to sell policies for American International Group and the two companies might cooperate in issuing credit cards, the Securities Times reported earlier yesterday, citing comments made by bank Chairman Ma Weihua at a meeting with Maurice Greenberg, chairman of American International.

　　Greenberg visited the bank Sunday and raised the issue of cooperation between the two financial institutions.

　　AIG said it expected premium income from China to rise by as much as a quarter this year as the world’s biggest insurer opened up four new branches on the mainland, extending its lead over rivals.

　　AIG, which has a sales force of more than 12,000 agents in China, planned eventually to sell mutual funds and pension funds and to provide credit cards and loans to Chinese consumers, it said in June.

　　(SD-Agencies)