Earlier, the Fortune (US) released its 2012 global ranking list of the world's 500 largest corporations ranked by revenue. ICBC climbed 23 spots from last year's ranking to reach 54th place, the best ranking since the bank made it to the list.

Ten more other firms from China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan) have made it to the list this year, taking the Chinese tally to 79 and coming in second to USA (132 US companies). ICBC is the 4th largest among the companies from Mainland China and the largest among Chinese financial firms. If ranked by profitability, ICBC is the third most profitable company (in net profit) trailing Gazprom and Exxon Mobil and edging ahead all Chinese companies and global financial firms in the list.