Receiving Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh in London on April 15, Woolf noted British businesses are keen to explore and expand operations in the Vietnamese market.

She said she is following Vietnam’s banking reform and hopes to cooperate and share experience in the field with Vietnam.

Deputy PM Ninh said Vietnam is accelerating its economic restructuring programme, with a focus on renovating its growth model, aiming to achieve sustainable development.

He proposed the City of London share experience in developing financial services and mobilising capital sources, especially through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.  

Ninh is in London for an official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

On April 15 he visited and worked with managers of Standard Chartered (SCB) bank who thanked the Vietnamese government for facilitating the bank’s operations and proposed additional support for its expansion in the country.

SCB managers expressed hope that Ninh will help the British business community get a better understanding of Vietnam’s deep international integration and its economic restructuring efforts, primarily in the banking system.

They hailed Vietnam’s effort in containing inflation, stabilising the macroeconomy, and maintaining south growth in the context of the global economic slowdown.

They were optimistic about Vietnam’s economic development prospects, initial encouraging results in banking restructuring, and its improved credit rating index.

The British executives held that an early conclusion and signing of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Vietnam and the European Union will create plenty of opportunity for investment and trade cooperation between both sides, as well as between Vietnam and the UK.

Ninh is scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Secretary William Hague, and meet with major British investors on April 16.

Source: www.intellasia.net