Japan Confers Grand Cordon Honour on SM Lee for Contributions to Bilateral Ties

Close partnership is fruit of hard work by generations of leaders from both sides: SM

- Walter Sim

TOKYO - Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong was conferred Japan's prestigious honour, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, on Aug 25 for his contributions to building bilateral relations.

In his acceptance speech upon receiving the distinction from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, SM Lee said: "I am deeply humbled to receive this award.

"I do so on behalf of generations of Singaporeans who have worked hard with their Japanese counterparts to strengthen our bilateral partnership over many decades."

The Grand Cordon is the top tier of the Order of the Rising Sun, a biennial decoration conferred by the Emperor. It is given to those who have made distinguished contributions to Japan and its people.

When it was first announced in April that SM Lee would receive the award, Japan cited his "significant contributions to strengthening relations and promoting friendship between Japan and Singapore".

As Singapore's prime minister from 2004 to 2024, Mr Lee oversaw the expansion of bilateral ties across multiple realms, including economy, trade, defence, diplomacy, environment and culture.

Mr Ishiba, in his congratulatory speech, described SM Lee as a "leading statesman in Asia".