Visiting JBIC President and CEO Hiroshi Watanabe gave assurance to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a reception in Hanoi on July 31.

He briefed his host on initiatives that JBIC is undertaking to pull the world economy out of recession. He said the bank will give priority to investments in clean energy, safe water, efficient energy use and improved urban transport. In addition, it will continue to guarantee and issue bonds and promote commercial sponsorship.

Mr Watanabe said he was impressed by Vietnam’s economic growth in the past months despite global economic woes.

While many countries experienced negative growth, Vietnam’s economy has shown positive signs of recovery and its commercial banks have maintained their operation, said Mr Watanabe, adding that such steady growth has motivated Japanese businesses to invest in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Dung praised JBIC initiatives which he said demonstrate the bank’s high sense of responsibility for the global economy.

The Vietnamese government is interested in these initiatives and wants to cooperate with the bank in its credit programmes to develop infrastructure, guarantee and issue bonds and promote commercial sponsorship, said Mr Dung.

He welcomed the bank’s decision to open an office in Vietnam and promised that Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for JBIC to operate efficiently in the country.

He said he will ask relevant Vietnamese ministries and sectors to study JBIC initiatives and discuss the possibility of cooperating with the bank in areas of mutual concern.

He proposed that the Japanese government speed up the implementation of its funded projects in Vietnam, including those to build Terminal 2 at Noi Bai International Airport, a road linking the terminal to Nhat Tan bridge and an expressway from Da Nang City to Quang Ngai province in central Vietnam.

Mr Dung expressed his hope that cooperation between Vietnam and JBIC will bring practical benefits to both sides.