The Japanese ambassador to Afghanistan Takashi Okada on Tuesday expressed hope that the Afghan government will ensure transparency in the spending of the Japanese financial assistance to Afghanistan in 2021.

In an interview with TOLOnews, the Japanese envoy said that the Afghan government should act firmly against corruption so that the Japanese financial assistance reaches the people of Afghanistan in an effective way.

He also expressed major concerns over the current level of violence in Afghanistan and said that the warring sides should reduce violence to help cement concrete steps for peace.

“The Japanese government has decided to provide 122 million US dollars economic assistance to the government of Afghanistan and our assistance has two pillars. One is the humanitarian and development assistance—and this year, we have an emphasis on those very vulnerable segments of society who have been hit very badly by the COVID-19,” said the Japanese ambassador to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada.

“In order for this assistance to have maximum impact, the one important element is transparency. We hope that the Afghan government will continue its efforts to eradicate corruption so that the maximum impact from our assistance can be ensured,” the Japanese envoy said.

“The package includes projects which provide food, nutrition, medical care and protection to returning refugees,” said ambassador Okada.

The Japanese envoy said that Tokyo strongly supports a peaceful Afghanistan, and said that it is up to the Afghans to decide their future.

“The Japanese government strongly hopes that the new settlement will be based on the achievements of the past nineteen years which includes, for example, the system of democratic government, the respect for fundamental values such as freedom, human rights, particularly the rights of women and the rights of minorities,” the Japanese envoy further said.

Japan has been one of the largest donors to Afghanistan in the past two decades.