Party economic commission head receives Japanese SMBC leader

Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 23 for Chairman of the Board of Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsu Financial Group (SMFG) and Sumitomo Mitsu Banking Corporation (SMBC) Koichi Miyata.

Binh welcomes Koichi Miyata’s visit amidst the Vietnam-Japan relations is growing soundly, especially in economy. He lauded the effective operation of the SMBC in Vietnam with all branches enjoying profits and having no bad loans.

Koichi Miyata said that the SMBC is implementing a new strategy with the focus on Asia, adding that Vietnam is the most important country in the strategy.

Many foreign investors have shown their interests in Vietnam, especially those from Japan, he said, pledging that the SMBC will support their investments.

Binh noted that Vietnam is a highly open economy, targeting to record rapid and sustainable growth based on the stable macro-economy and resilient banking system against outside shocks.

Vietnam will also continue improving its business-investment environment, creating more favourable conditions for domestic and foreign investors, including the SMBC, he said.

He expressed his hope that the SMBC will continue its long-term operation in Vietnam, while expanding cooperation and experience sharing with Vietnamese banks and the Vietnamese economy in general.

The same day, Binh also had a meeting with Ioanis E. Raptakis, Greek Ambassador to Vietnam, during which Binh highlighted the need for closer coordination between the two countries in raising two-way trade to match potential of both sides.

He proposed that Greece supports Vietnam to promote partnership with the European Union, as well as the signing and implementation of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU, thus expanding economic and trade cooperation space between the two sides.

Binh vowed that Vietnam always creates all favourable conditions for enterprises and investors from Greece, and welcomes them to seek investment opportunities in Vietnam.-VNA