Japan’s Special Ambassador to Vietnam, Sugi Ryotaro, said Monday that the Japanese government was hoping to resume its aid in April and pledged to do his best to assist the process.

Referring to the PCI scandal that led to Japan deciding to suspend its provision of ODA to Vietnam, Dung reiterated his government’s firm stance in the ongoing battle against corruption and expressed regret over Japan’s unilateral decision to halt the ODA at a recent donor’s meeting.

He pointed out that following the discovery of the scandal, the Vietnamese government immediately asked the Japanese side to provide relevant information and documentation and cooperate in investigating the case.

“Vietnamese investigative agencies have started legal proceedings against the suspects, while the Supreme People’s Procurary has sent a dispatch to the Japanese Prosecution Institute to provide evidence in order to bring the case to justice in line with the law,” Dung said.

But Vietnam still has not received a reply from the Japanese judiciary, despite meeting all of their requirements, he added.

He stressed that Vietnam had previously used Japan’s ODA in an effective manner and expressed his hopes for its early resumption.

Sugi Ryotaro announced the details of a program to provide 50 fire engines to Vietnam, offer Japanese jobs to Vietnamese nurses and promote cultural and cinematographic cooperation.

Source: VNA