Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will receive the “Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flower” from the Emperor of Japan during his three-day working visit to the Land of the Rising Sun, which begins on Monday, November 5.
Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Datuk Ahmad Izlan Idris said the presentation of Japan’s highest honor by Emperor Akihito, which is able to happen on the Imperial Palace on Tuesday, follows the prime minister’s enormous contribution to strengthening bilateral relations.
“Traditionally, this award is given to foreign leaders such as prime ministers and statesmen from within and outside Japan,” he told Malaysian journalists on Sunday.
Dr Mahathir is the third Asian leader to receive this prestigious award, after former Prime Minister of Singapore, the late Lee Kuan Yew, and former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh.
“The Prime Minister and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali are also scheduled to attend lunch with the Emperor and Empress of Japan at the Imperial Palace on Wednesday,” he said.
This might be Dr Mahathir’s third visit to Japan after he became Prime Minister of Malaysia for the second time following the 14th general election on May 9. The first one took place in June and the second in August.
Ahmad Izlan said that after receiving the award on the second day of the visit, the prime minister and his delegation were to fulfill together with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in his office.
“The two prime ministers will discuss bilateral relations and regional and international problems with common interest,” he said.
On the second day, he said, Dr Mahathir can also be scheduled to attend the thirty sixth Japan-Malaysia Economic Association (Jameka)-Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (Majeca) Meeting and the Malaysian Business Forum.
Earlier, on the primary day of the visit, the Prime Minister will receive an honorary doctorate from Tsukuba Universiti in Tokyo, which is the best expression of recognition of the university for his contribution to the event of international exchange in the sphere of research and education.
source: BERNAMA
