TOKYO — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, as current Chair of ASEAN, conferred the Order of Sikatuna (Posthumous), Rank of Raja (Grand Collar), on the late former Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda (1905-1995) at formal ceremonies in Tokyo last 31 October, as he wrapped up his fruitful second visit to Japan.

The decoration was received by the Honorable Yasuo Fukuda, the late leader’s eldest son and himself a former Prime Minister of Japan (2007-2008). He was accompanied by wife Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda; eldest son Tatsuo Fukuda, a Member of Japan’s House of Representatives; second son Shigeo Fukuda, a business executive formerly assigned to Manila; and nephew Takao Ochi, a State Minister within Japan’s Cabinet Office.

President Duterte presents the citation accompanying the decoration to former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (Photo: Presidential Photo Division).

The conferment honored the late PM Fukuda’s role in shaping Japan-ASEAN relations over the last forty years, through his articulation in Manila on 18 August 1977 of the basic guiding principles’ of Japanese diplomacy with Southeast Asia.

The President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter S. Cayetano with the awardee’s kin (from L: Cabinet Office State Minister Takao Ochi, Mr. Shigeo Fukuda, former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Mme. Kiyoko Fukuda, and Representative Tatsuo Fukuda (screengrab from RTVM video).

The “Fukuda Doctrine”, as these principles are now known, is widely credited for inaugurating an era of positive and mutually-beneficial engagement between ASEAN and Japan. Under the doctrine, Japan rejected the role of a military power and resolved to contribute to the peace and prosperity of Southeast Asia through positive cooperation; committed itself to a relationship of mutual confidence, trust and heart-to-heart understanding with the region; and positioned itself as an equal partner of ASEAN and its member countries.

The Order of Sikatuna, Grand Collar.

In the four decades since, Japan emerged to become among the staunchest supporters of ASEAN centrality and unity, regional stability, connectivity, and overall development. Japan was ASEAN’s second largest trade partner in 2015 (US$ 239.4 billion in two-way trade), and accounted for 14.5% of total FDI inflows into ASEAN that year with (US$ 17.4 billion).

The conferment, presided over by no less than the Philippine President as current ASEAN Chair, marks another highlight for the Philippine Chairmanship as it leads the ongoing commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN and its many valued partnerships. In honoring the 40th anniversary of the Fukuda Doctrine, the Philippine Chairmanship also paid tribute to the history and abiding strength of ASEAN-Japan relations.

The Ambassadors and diplomats of ASEAN Member States’ diplomatic missions in Tokyo joined members of the President’s delegation and representatives of the business community in witnessing the occasion.

President Duterte presents the Grand Collar to former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, son of awardee former PM Yasuo Fukuda (Photo: Presidential Photo Division).

The Order of Sikatuna, and particularly the rank of Raja, is the highest civilian honor and order of diplomatic merit the Philippine President bestows on incumbent and former foreign leaders, and other foreign nationals who have contributed to the promotion of friendship and good relations between the Republic of the Philippines and their respective countries. END

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