ST. PETERSBURG, August 31 (RIA Novosti) - Japan's government will take efforts to help auto giant Suzuki implement its frozen project to build a car plant in St. Petersburg, the Japanese ambassador to Russia said on Monday.

The Japanese carmaker Suzuki suspended a project to build the plant near Russia's second city in June.

Masaharu Kono said at a meeting with St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko that although Suzuki was facing financial difficulties, the Japanese government would try to improve the situation and resume the project.

Matviyenko noted that Japanese auto giants such as Toyota and Nissan already have plants in St. Petersburg, said she hoped Suzuki would also be able to see its project through.

Under a deal signed with Russia's Economics Ministry and the St. Petersburg administration in 2007, the plant was intended to produce 30,000 cars annually, with the possibility of increasing it to 50,000 by 2012 and then to 100,000.

Suzuki Grand Vitara and SX4 were to be the main models produced. Initial investment was assessed at 85 million euros ($120 million).