Since late summer, about $20 billion in capital has left the country, according to American bankers.

American bankers in China say that, for them, such a strategy is not possible.

They were eager to meet American bankers and business people.

"A lot of the money has now left the system entirely," the American banker said.

"Things don't look good for us," said one American banker involved in the negotiations.

"I certainly think they've gotten more comfortable over the last week," an American commercial banker said.

American Banker is a daily trade newspaper covering the financial services industry.

"To get more experienced American bankers in the organization, the only way was to move the whole function here," he said.

But smaller banks have less interest in going along with the plan, American bankers close to the talks say.

"He's got some problems on the 1990 budget, since they need a minimal amount of new money," an American banker said.