BEIJING — China’s insurance sector has shown a stronger capacity to fend off risks as its overall leverage gradually has dropped and business structure improved, the country’s insurance regulator said.

The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) said the general and core solvency ratios of 178 insurance companies stood at 245 percent and 234 percent, respectively, at the end of the second quarter of this year.

Both ratios were well above the “safe level”, the CBIRC said.

The regulator said the sector’s solvency has been sufficient and stable, while noting increasing pressures from external changes.

Property insurance companies saw the highest general solvency ratio at 265 percent, followed by 254 percent for reinsurance companies and 241 percent for life insurance companies.

Solvency represents insurance companies’ debt-paying abilities. While the general ratio demonstrates the overall condition of their capital, the core ratio is more focused on high-quality capital.