Speech by HE Ambassador of Japan, Oka Hiroshi, on the occasion of the Conferment Ceremony of Decoration of Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, for HE Amre Moussa on October 30, 2023
2023/10/30
It is a great pleasure and honor to have the privilege of inviting HE. Mr. and Mrs. Amre Moussa with us today for conferment ceremony.
I am so honored and delighted to convey to H.E. Amre Moussa the decoration of Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, on behalf of the Government of Japan, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to strengthening relations between Japan and Egypt as well as Japan and the Arab countries.
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is the highest-ranking decoration awarded by the Emperor of Japan to foreigners who have made outstanding achievements in relations with Japan.
It is our pleasure that we can organize this occasion with so many distinguished guests present here.
HE Amre Moussa had been at the helm of Egyptian and Arab diplomacy for as many as twenty years and had greatly contributed to stability and prosperity of the region and successfully raising the voices of Arabs in the international arenas. For his achievement, he is greatly respected by many distinguished people around the world, as you can see from the guests gathered here today.
In fact, I am among such admirer of HE Amre Moussa. Coming back to Cairo after 40 years since studying Arabic in Cairo, I am thrilled and excited by the opportunities to get acquainted with HE Amre Moussa in Cairo.
In the light the strategic importance of Arab region and Egypt in particular, strengthening diplomatic relations with this region has always been a priority of Japanese diplomacy.
Over the years, HE Amre Moussa has made significant contributions to advancing relations between Japan and Egypt as Egyptian Foreign Minister, including through his four time visit to Japan.
He also supported Japan’s diplomatic approach to the Arab region as our Japan’s good partner during his tenure as Secretary General of League of Arab States.
Whenever there was a challenge in promoting cooperation between us, he had always worked tirelessly to coordinate with the parties concerned and bring about a solution. It is none other than H.E. Mr. Amr Moussa who has made Egypt-Japan relations and Japan-Arab cooperation what they are today.
During his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan's major cooperation projects with Egypt have made significant progress, including the construction of the Suez Canal Peace Bridge, connecting the Asian and African continents, and the support for the Cairo University Pediatric Hospital (CUSPH) to improve maternal and child health care.
On the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister Kishida to Egypt in April this year, he and President Sisi agreed to upgrade the bilateral relations to strategic partnership. It would not be an exaggeration to state that the solid basis of this strategic partnership had been laid during his tenure as Foreign Minister.
This year also witnessed a substantive progress in relations between Japan and LAS. On the occasion of his visit to Cairo, Prime Minister Kishida visited HQ of LAS, for the first time as Japan’s Prime Minister and met with HE Abulgait and delivered a speech emphasizing his eagerness to strengthen partnership between Japan and LAS.
Following up on this visit, Foreign Minister Hayashi visited HQ of LAS in September to attend 3rd Japan Arab Political Dialogue, which produced a joint statement announcing partnership between Japan and Arab to work for stability and prosperity in the region.
This “Japan Arab Political Dialogue” is based on "Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Government of Japan and the League of Arab States", signed 10 years ago. In 2009, preceding this MOU, H.E.Mr. Amre Moussa had devoted himself to the establishment of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum. This forum has been held five times, and preparations are underway for the sixth forum to be held in Japan next year.
The relations between Japan and the League of Arab States have now been developed into comprehensive partnership under the MOU covering political and cultural fields as well. By launching Japan Arab Economic Forum which remains as a core part of Japan Arab League cooperation, HE Amre Moussa had opened a new horizon for Japan Arab cooperation.
I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate his outstanding achievements for advancing friendship with Japan and express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to him, and I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing H.E. Mr. Moussa all the best in his future endeavours and counting on his continued support for further development of friendship between Japan-Egypt and Japan-Arab countries.
Thank you all very much.
I am so honored and delighted to convey to H.E. Amre Moussa the decoration of Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, on behalf of the Government of Japan, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to strengthening relations between Japan and Egypt as well as Japan and the Arab countries.
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is the highest-ranking decoration awarded by the Emperor of Japan to foreigners who have made outstanding achievements in relations with Japan.
It is our pleasure that we can organize this occasion with so many distinguished guests present here.
HE Amre Moussa had been at the helm of Egyptian and Arab diplomacy for as many as twenty years and had greatly contributed to stability and prosperity of the region and successfully raising the voices of Arabs in the international arenas. For his achievement, he is greatly respected by many distinguished people around the world, as you can see from the guests gathered here today.
In fact, I am among such admirer of HE Amre Moussa. Coming back to Cairo after 40 years since studying Arabic in Cairo, I am thrilled and excited by the opportunities to get acquainted with HE Amre Moussa in Cairo.
In the light the strategic importance of Arab region and Egypt in particular, strengthening diplomatic relations with this region has always been a priority of Japanese diplomacy.
Over the years, HE Amre Moussa has made significant contributions to advancing relations between Japan and Egypt as Egyptian Foreign Minister, including through his four time visit to Japan.
He also supported Japan’s diplomatic approach to the Arab region as our Japan’s good partner during his tenure as Secretary General of League of Arab States.
Whenever there was a challenge in promoting cooperation between us, he had always worked tirelessly to coordinate with the parties concerned and bring about a solution. It is none other than H.E. Mr. Amr Moussa who has made Egypt-Japan relations and Japan-Arab cooperation what they are today.
During his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan's major cooperation projects with Egypt have made significant progress, including the construction of the Suez Canal Peace Bridge, connecting the Asian and African continents, and the support for the Cairo University Pediatric Hospital (CUSPH) to improve maternal and child health care.
On the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister Kishida to Egypt in April this year, he and President Sisi agreed to upgrade the bilateral relations to strategic partnership. It would not be an exaggeration to state that the solid basis of this strategic partnership had been laid during his tenure as Foreign Minister.
This year also witnessed a substantive progress in relations between Japan and LAS. On the occasion of his visit to Cairo, Prime Minister Kishida visited HQ of LAS, for the first time as Japan’s Prime Minister and met with HE Abulgait and delivered a speech emphasizing his eagerness to strengthen partnership between Japan and LAS.
Following up on this visit, Foreign Minister Hayashi visited HQ of LAS in September to attend 3rd Japan Arab Political Dialogue, which produced a joint statement announcing partnership between Japan and Arab to work for stability and prosperity in the region.
This “Japan Arab Political Dialogue” is based on "Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Government of Japan and the League of Arab States", signed 10 years ago. In 2009, preceding this MOU, H.E.Mr. Amre Moussa had devoted himself to the establishment of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum. This forum has been held five times, and preparations are underway for the sixth forum to be held in Japan next year.
The relations between Japan and the League of Arab States have now been developed into comprehensive partnership under the MOU covering political and cultural fields as well. By launching Japan Arab Economic Forum which remains as a core part of Japan Arab League cooperation, HE Amre Moussa had opened a new horizon for Japan Arab cooperation.
I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate his outstanding achievements for advancing friendship with Japan and express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to him, and I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing H.E. Mr. Moussa all the best in his future endeavours and counting on his continued support for further development of friendship between Japan-Egypt and Japan-Arab countries.
Thank you all very much.
