Key speakers at the launch ceremony of CUFE-CNI Green Bond Index Series held at the Central University of Finance and Economics on March 20, 2017. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A new Green Bond Index series linking China and Europe has been launched to encourage domestic and foreign investors to choose investment options in Chinese green bonds.

The new index series was launched at a high-level forum titled Chinese Green Finance: Dialogue with the International Market, held at the Central University of Finance and Economics on Monday.

The CUFE-CNI Green Bond Index Series is a joint initiative of the International Institute of Green Finance (IIGF), the Central University of Finance and Economics, Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE).

"The Green Bond Index Series will become the benchmark of Chinese green bonds and is characterized by its broad representation of green bonds listed in China and a high-level of transparency," said Shi Yingzhe, head of the green bond lab of IIGF and research leader at the CUFE-CNI green bond index.

Green bonds are a tool to finance eligible green projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency and water treatment projects.