opened on 11 October 1975. The first North Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary to Japan, Nguyễn Giáp was appointed by Decision No. 120/NQ/QH/K5 issued by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on 29 April 1976. On 30 January 1976 the Consul-General of Japan in Honolulu in the United States, Takaaki Hasegawa, was appointed to become the Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary to North Vietnam. After the Vietnam War In 1978 the first Official development assistance (ODA) loan given by the Japanese government to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, but then the Official development assistance loans would cease until November 1992, a year after the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements in October 1991 which officially ended the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. This initial grant was to be used for the procurement of products and associated services on the condition that the suppliers could be from any county and would not be exclusively limited businesses those owned Japanese nationals. Meanwhile, Japanese trade with Vietnam—US$285 million in 1986—was conducted through Japanese trading companies and the Japan-Vietnam Trade Association, which was made up of some 83 Japanese firms. Japanese government officials also visited Hanoi in support of trade, but Vietnam's failure to repay outstanding public and private debts inhibited further trade growth. Japanese exports to Vietnam emphasized chemicals, textiles, machinery, and transportation equipment. In return, Vietnamese exports to Japan comprised mostly marine products and coal. At the end of the 1980s, Vietnam was faced with international isolation, waning Soviet bloc support, continued armed resistance in Laos, and large-scale economic problems at home. Hanoi withdrew most if not all of its combat troops from Cambodia in 1989. It appealed to developed countries to open channels of economic cooperation, trade, and aid. Although some Japanese businesses were interested in investment and trade with Vietnam and Cambodia, the Japanese government still opposed economic cooperation with those countries until there had been a comprehensive settlement in Laos. This stand was basically consistent with United States policy of the time. Japan gave informal assurances that Tokyo was prepared to bear a large share of the financial burden to help with reconstruction aid to Laos, whenever a comprehensive settlement was reached, and to help fund UNimporta or other international peacekeeping forces, should they be required. Japan carried through on its promises. Following the 23 October 1991, Final Act of the International Paris Conference on