President Nathan conferred honorary doctorate by Tokyo's
Keio University
TOKYO, JAPAN: Singapore President SR Nathan has been
conferred an honorary doctorate by Tokyo's Keio University.
He accepted the award on the fourth day of his week-long state
visit to Japan.
Professor Yuichi Anzai, president of Keio University, presented
President Nathan an honorary degree of Doctor of Media and
Governance.
It was given in recognition of his outstanding and significant
contribution to ties with Japan and beyond the region.
Known for his proficiency in Japanese, President Nathan addressed
the audience briefly in the local language.
"Distinguished guest, I express my appreciation from my heart for
this honour. Thank you," Mr Nathan said in Japanese.
Singaporean universities have exchange relations with various
Japanese universities, among them Keio University.
Keio is one of Japan's prestigious private universities with a
history of 150 years.
The hall where the award ceremony took place is regarded as Japan's
oldest hall dedicated to public speech.
There, Mr Nathan looked back at Japan's milestones, including the
economic difficulties faced in the last two decades.
He said: "As Japan has done time again since the Meiji era and
after World War II, my call to young Japanese is to go out again
into the world that is marked by technological innovations and
scientific discoveries and profound change.
"Bring back ideas to revitalize your country and your economy and
take the next economic leap that Japan must endeavour to
re-establish its pre-eminence among the leading nations of Asia in
the 21st Century."
Earlier Tuesday, President Nathan met Japanese lawmakers and
business executives, who had received awards from him on National
Day.
- CNA/ir