Bank of China Ltd. (3988.HK) President Li Lihui said Thursday the lender is closely studying whether it will help finance Aluminum Corp. of China's US$19.5 billion investment in Rio Tinto PLC. (RTP).

Li told reporters on the sidelines of the National People's Congress that Chinalco is "one of the bank's good clients," but he didn't elaborate.

Chinalco earlier said two policy banks - China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China - will lead a group of local financial institutions to support its investment in Rio.

-By Patricia Jiayi Ho, Dow Jones Newswires; 8610 6588-5848; patricia.ho@dowjones.com