He said Japan was taking special interest in how Vietnam solved this case. Japan will provide more information for Vietnamese investigative agencies. He believes that Vietnam will prosecute Huynh Ngoc Si, former Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Transport and Director of the East-West Highway and Water Environment Project Management Unit in HCM City.

“I know that Vietnam is investigating this case. I would like to emphasise that Japan arrested all people related to this case. The Japanese court tried and convicted leaders of PCI for bribery,” the Japanese ambassador said.

Four projects signed

About Japan’s resumption of ODA for Vietnam, the ambassador said he hoped that this March, the two sides would sign a diplomatic note for four Japan-funded projects: the urban railway project and the second phase of a water drainage project in Hanoi, the water drainage and environment improvement project in Hai Phong city, and the project to upgrade bridges on provincial roads.

The Japanese diplomat again confirmed Japan’s consistent policy of “always trying its best to assist Vietnam in its development”.

Despite economic crisis and the reductions of its ODA grants for other countries, Japan continues to give more ODA to Vietnam.

On March 10, two Japan-funded projects to build a primary school in Muong Khen, Hoa Binh province and to upgrade rural roads in Huong lam commune, Bac Giang province were signed, worth more than US$ 160,000.

Cao Nhat