Bank of China said yesterday that it was in talks with Royal Bank of Scotland on the British government-controlled bank's plan to sell shares in the Chinese lender.

Bank of China has been informed about RBS's plan to sell shares and is communicating with RBS, said Wang Zhaowen, chief spokesman at the Chinese bank.

An announcement on the results of a share sale "will be subject to the communications between Bank of China and RBS," Wang said when reached by telephone.