TOKYO (Reuters) -Shinjiro Koizumi, a top contender to become Japan’s next premier, said it was important for the government and central bank to share a common understanding on the direction of economic policy, the Nikkei newspaper reported.
“I hope to achieve a positive economic cycle with the government’s economic policy and the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy serving as two wheels of a car,” Koizumi was quoted as saying in an interview with Nikkei that was conducted on Tuesday and published on Wednesday.
The remarks came amid growing market expectations the BOJ will raise interest rates as soon as its next policy meeting on October 29-30, following a hawkish board split at last month’s rate review.
Currently farm minister, Koizumi is seen as a frontrunner in the ruling party’s leadership race to be held on Saturday.
(Reporting by Leika KiharaEditing by Shri Navaratnam)
