H.E. Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Japan, conferred the “Dostyk (Friendship)” Order, by decree of H.E. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, upon Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, KPC Councillor and former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, in recognition of her longstanding and distinguished contributions to the development of relations between Kazakhstan and Japan.
Upon receiving the decoration, Ms. Kawaguchi expressed her appreciation and remarked that she was pleased to see the continued strengthening of friendly relations between Japan, Kazakhstan, and the countries of Central Asia.
The ceremony was attended by Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Honorary Chairman of the KPC Council (former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and current President of the United Nations Association of Japan); Mr. Sukehiro Hasegawa, Director of the KPC Center and Chairman of the KPC Council (current Vice-President of the United Nations Association of Japan); as well as KPC Councillors Amb. Tsuneo Nishida (former Ambassador of Japan to the United Nations) and Amb. Tadamichi Yamamoto (former Ambassador of Japan to UNESCO and former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations).