At a grand ceremony held at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador and attended by a large gathering of diplomats and family members, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, was awarded on 11 November the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. The decoration was conferred upon him by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in recognition of his distinguished contributions to bolstering cooperation between Egypt and Japan during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, as well as for his efforts in advancing Arab-Japanese relations and launching the Arab-Japanese political dialogue at the ministerial level during his tenure as Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
Gamal Roshdy, the Secretary-General’s official spokesperson, stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit delivered a speech during the ceremony, expressing his profound gratitude to His Majesty Emperor Naruhito and to the notable Government of Japan for bestowing upon him the Order of the Rising Sun, which he described as not only a personal distinction but also a recognition of his decades of dedicated service.
The spokesperson added that Mr. Aboul Gheit asserted in his address that Japan represents an important and inspiring model of comprehensive modernisation achieved while preserving deep confidence in its national capabilities and an enduring pride in its cultural identity. He stressed that genuine development is founded on openness and engagement with the world, without relinquishing one’s national traditions and heritage.
Mr. Aboul Gheit further noted that the Japanese experience remains a source of enduring inspiration in all its dimensions and unique characteristics. He reaffirmed his commitment—since assuming his position as Secretary-General of the League of Arab States—to strengthening Arab-Japanese cooperation through sustained political dialogue between the two sides. He also recalled his significant visit to Tokyo in 2024, which offered him an exceptional opportunity to witness firsthand the remarkable progress achieved by Japan across various fields, while preserving its distinctive spirit.
The Order of the Rising Sun, established by Emperor Meiji in 1875, is conferred by the government of Japan in the name of the Emperor upon individuals who have rendered outstanding service in the field of international relations.
