One of the Chinese mainland's big 4 banks, Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), has nominated Ma Si-hang as a candidate for the company's independent non-executive director, Xinhuanet reported Thursday, citing an announcement from the bank's board of directors.

Related readings:  Banks come close to reaching annual lending quotas  ABC reports 30% increase in Q3 profit  AgBank, StanChart eye SME-related China JV  New ABC News president will face complex job

Ma, 58, had been Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) between 2007 to 2008, the report said.

Along with Ma, Wen Tiejun, a former deputy secretary-general of China Society of Economic Reform, was nominated for the position as well, according to the report.

The proposal will be raised to the bank's first extraordinary general meeting this year, scheduled for March 2, it added.