BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that progress has been made in the investigation over an incident involving the Japanese ambassador's car, and China has briefed Japan on the investigation.

Spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a daily press conference.

Reports say the car carrying Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa was forced to stop by two cars on his way back to the embassy on August 27. A man then emerged from one of the vehicles, pulled off the flag on Unichiro Niwa's car and fled.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's office said on the evening of August 27 that relevant authorities were seriously investigating the incident.

The Chinese government always conscientiously fulfills the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to protect the safety of foreign embassies and personnel, the office said.