ABERDEEN Standard Investments is ramping up its offering in the mainland Chinese market after its subsidiary Aberdeen Standard Asset Management Shanghai won approval to start offering investment advice from the local regulatory body.

The move will see the business provide investment advisory services to onshore investors on products offered by Chinese asset managers.

Its Asia Pacific head Hugh Young said the expansion was testament to Aberdeen Standard Investments’ “strong commitment to China”, which is “a strategic long-term focus for our firm”.

“As we continue to invest and strengthen our presence in China, we look forward to bringing a broader range of investment opportunities and international best practices to address the needs of Chinese investors,” he said.

Earlier this year Aberdeen Standard Investments’ parent company Standard Life Aberdeen gained permission to establish a pensions insurance company in China via its 50-50 joint venture with Tianjin TEDA International, Heng An Standard Life.

Standard Life originally entered China in 1999 with the launch of Standard Life Asia, which sold life insurance and financial products through advisers based in Hong Kong.

Heng An Standard Life Insurance was set up to serve the mainland China market in 2003. It bought Standard Life Asia two years ago.

This week Standard Life Aberdeen’s UK advisory arm 1825 bulked up with the acquisition of Grant Thornton’s wealth advisory business.