The Government of Japan has conferred Brunei’s former senior government official the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star decoration in recognition of his achievements in strengthening relations between Japan and ASEAN.
Dato Seri Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, the former ASEAN Secretary-General, received Japan’s oldest and most prestigious honour bestowed by Japan’s Emperor Naruhito.
He received the state decoration from His Excellency Maeda Toru, the Japanese ambassador to Brunei Darussalam on behalf of the emperor and government of Japan.
The Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 as Japan’s first decoration and is a prestigious Order that honours people in Japan and abroad who have made outstanding achievements in various fields of society.
Dato Lim in his remarks expressed gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Prime Minister of Japan, the government and the people of Japan for the prestigious recognition.
“In many aspects, the close, long-standing friendship and historical ties between Brunei and Japan are reflected in the significant people-to-people engagement my team and I have had with Japan and its people over the course of my career,” he said.
The former secretary-general recalled his leadership in the negotiations for the Brunei-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (BJEPA) in 2007 which remains the only bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) Brunei has to date.
“I recall fondly the days of trade negotiations when internet technology was still nascent and we were still sending draft texts through fax machine,” he said.
He further said that the award is a clear testament to the rapid growth of the ASEAN-Japan partnership over the last 50 years, beginning with the formal initiation of dialogue in 1973 and subsequent formalisation in 1977 which continues to expand significantly since the elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023 during the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit.
“Today, Japan not only continues to be a strategic bilateral partner for Brunei but also one of the most supportive partners of ASEAN in contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity,” said Dato Lim.
He continued that Japan’s unwavering support for ASEAN Centrality and its active engagement in regional forums have been crucial in addressing common challenges and seizing shared opportunities.
Together, he added, we have navigated complex issues, from regional security to economic integration, always guided by the principles of mutual respect and benefit.
“I am therefore appreciative of Japan’s continued efforts to strengthen its engagement bilaterally with Brunei and ASEAN in recognition of the strategic importance of the Southeast Asian region,” he said.
Although retired, Dato Lim hoped to continue to contribute to the strengthening of our close ties and cooperation through other means.
During his capacity as ASEAN Secretary-General, he managed Japan-ASEAN projects sponsored by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund, aligning them with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) that shares fundamental principles with Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
His efforts facilitated the implementation of cooperation initiatives, setting the stage for the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendly Cooperation.
Moreover, Dato Lim played a pivotal role in advocating ASEAN-Japan cooperation in the economic sector through initiatives such as ASEAN-Japan Action Plan for Economic Resilience, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement and cooperation with the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA).
He also contributed to strengthen Japan-ASEAN cooperation in the judicial field by upholding Japan’s participation in Senior Law Officials Meeting as the first country among ASEAN dialogue partners.
Furthermore, during his 11 years of service as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he profoundly understood Japan’s position and supported the Japan-Brunei cooperation through frameworks including the ASEAN Economic Community, APEC and ASEM, in an international forum.
His advocacy led to the conclusion of the Brunei-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in June 2007, which bolstered trade and investment between the two countries.
As the Chief Negotiator for Brunei in the EPA negotiations, Dato Lim played a key role in achieving the agreement by conducting three negotiation sessions.
He also supported Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), showcasing his commitment to fostering regional economic integration.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Maeda paid tribute and expressed gratitude to Dato Lim for his contribution to the deepening of bilateral relations and exchanges between Japan and Brunei.
Also in attendance at the event hosted at the residence of the Japanese ambassador were Dato Lim’s spouse and officers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
