Former secretary-general of ASEAN Dato Seri Paduka Lim Jock Hoi was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star at a ceremony at the Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam’s official residence in Jalan Sungai Tilong yesterday.
Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam Maeda Toru, officially handed over the honour to Dato Seri Paduka Lim.
In his speech, Dato Seri Paduka Lim Jock Hoi said, “The conferment is particularly auspicious, especially as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and Japan this year.
“In many aspects, the close, long-standing friendship and historical ties between Brunei Darussalam and Japan are reflected in the significant people-to-people engagement my team and I have had with Japan and its people throughout my career. I want to extend my gratitude for the strong support I received from the government and the people of Japan throughout.”
He added, “This award is a clear testament to the rapid growth of the ASEAN-Japan partnership over the last 50 years. Beginning with the informal initiation of dialogue in 1973, and its subsequent formalisation in 1977, the partnership has continued to expand significantly, culminating in the elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at last year’s 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit.”
Japan’s support for ASEAN centrality and its active engagement in regional forums, he said, “have been crucial in addressing common challenges and seizing shared opportunities.
Together, we have navigated complex issues, from regional security to economic integration, always guided by the principles of mutual respect and benefit.”
During his five-year tenure as secretary-general of ASEAN, Dato Seri Paduka Lim played a significant role in strengthening Japan-ASEAN relations. He managed Japan-ASEAN projects funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund, aligning them with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which shares fundamental principles with the Free and Open Indo-Pacific. His efforts facilitated the implementation of cooperation initiatives, setting the stage for the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Action Plan for Economic Resilience, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, and collaboration with the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN.
Dato Seri Paduka Lim contributed to the strengthening of Japan-ASEAN cooperation in the judicial field by supporting Japan’s participation in senior officials’ meetings as the first country among ASEAN dialogue partners.
Meanwhile, during his 11 years of service as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dato Seri Paduka Lim supported Japan-Brunei cooperation through frameworks including the ASEAN Economic Community, APEC, and ASEM in international forums. His advocacy led to the conclusion of the Brunei-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement in June 2007, which bolstered trade and investment between the two countries. As Brunei’s chief negotiator in the EPA negotiations, Dato Seri Paduka Lim played a key role in achieving the agreement by conducting three negotiation sessions.
The Order of the Rising Sun, established in 1875 as Japan’s first decoration, is a prestigious honour that recognises individuals in Japan and abroad who have made outstanding achievements in various fields of society.
Dato Seri Paduka Lim’s spouse, Datin Chan Chin Ming, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the ceremony. – James Kon
