Shanghai's role as a global financial hub will continue to be supported by Mizuho Financial Group through innovative financial services, said the company's chairman Seiji Imai ahead of the 37th annual meeting of the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai (IBLAC) held on Oct 12.

Imai expressed his honor to participate in the IBLAC meeting: "We deeply appreciate the valuable opportunity to directly exchange opinions with the Shanghai municipal government and top executives from various countries."

Mizuho, as a member of the Shanghai International Financial Advisory Council, is committed to offering advice on enhancing Shanghai's role as an international financial center.

Mizuho Bank plans to participate in the "green practices" group discussion, introducing its initiatives on "natural capital" and its efforts to address societal challenges such as the declining birthrate and aging population.

Imai emphasized the significance of international platforms like IBLAC in fostering innovation.

"In the context of increasingly complex and diverse global issues, it is crucial to actively absorb different perspectives and experiences for sustainable development," he said. "I deeply feel that international dialogue platforms like IBLAC can greatly contribute to Shanghai's innovation and competitiveness."

The recent approval of Mizuho Securities (China) Co Ltd as the first wholly foreign-owned and first Japanese securities firm this year highlights Mizuho's strategic move into China's capital market.

Imai explained the rationale behind this expansion: "China's capital market ranks third in the world in terms of fund pool size, after the United States and Europe. We believe that China's bond market is not only vast, but also demonstrates strong growth momentum."

Mizuho Securities (China) will focus on underwriting corporate bonds and trading within the domestic Chinese bond market.

To support Chinese companies' globalization, Mizuho has established a "China Desk" at its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, staffed with Chinese nationals.

"This initiative has allowed us to establish a one-stop financial service system from our China headquarters to the Asia Pacific region," Imai noted.

Furthermore, Mizuho Bank (China) obtained cross-border lending qualifications in early 2025, enabling it to provide financing directly to overseas clients from within China.

Imai said, "As a result, we are able to provide customers with diversified financial services both domestically and internationally with optimal cost-efficiency and high convenience."

In the realm of green finance, Mizuho is leveraging its global experience to support Chinese companies in sustainable development. The bank assists businesses in understanding relevant policies and provides support in areas such as environmental protection, emissions reduction, carbon neutrality strategies, and ESG reporting.

Imai added, "We not only assist companies in understanding relevant policies but also provide support in areas like environmental protection, emissions reduction, carbon neutrality measures, and ESG report preparation to support companies' sustainable development."

Regarding Sino-Japanese collaboration in the Yangtze River Delta region, Mizuho is actively supporting the region's development through business matching and supply chain finance. Mizuho co-hosted the first China-Japan Innovation Forum in Tokyo with the Shanghai municipal government in July, attracting over 400 companies.

Imai affirmed, "Mizuho will continue to leverage its global resources to provide comprehensive support to Chinese companies, helping Chinese and Japanese companies 'co-create and win together' and jointly move towards a better future."