On November 22nd, President Chen Shui-bian awarded former Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro of Japan the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to advancing friendship between Taiwan and Japan.
President Chen said that former Prime Minister Mori is a heavyweight in Japanese politics, who had been the 85th and 86th Prime Minister of Japan and had held several important positions such as Minister of Education, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Minister of Construction and Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party.
In 2001, Prime Minister Mori, disregarding China's opposition and threat to recall its ambassador to Japan, persuaded the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister to grant a visa to former ROC President Lee Teng-hui to go to Japan for medical treatment. For what Prime Minister Mori has achieved to promote the friendship between Taiwan and Japan, the Taiwanese government decided to bestow upon him this Order of highest honor, President Chen said.
The President said that Taiwan and Japan share the same values of democracy, freedom, law and order, and human rights, and that there is still much room for these two Asian countries to cooperate in the areas of economy, forestry, fishery, culture, environmental protection, and education. He cited the example of the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR), the first export ever of Japan's Shinkansen technology, which symbolizes the close ties between the two sides as well as a successful case in bilateral collaboration. President Chen invited his guests to visit Taiwan again to witness the historical moment when the THSR starts its business operation on December 7th.
In response, former Prime Minister Mori said during his decades-long political career, he has striven for the development, prosperity and stability of Taiwan and Japan. Today is the most honorable day in his political career as he is able to receive the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon from President Chen, he added. He assured the President of his commitment to the future development of both countries and expressed his best wishes for Taiwan's prosperity.