Shyam Saran to be conferred with Japan’s second highest national award- The Order of Rising Sun

Shyam Saran, an Indian career diplomat, will be conferred with Japan’s second highest national award- The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. He will be awarded in 2019 Spring Imperial Decorations for his contributions to strengthen the strategic ties and enhancing mutual understanding between India and Japan. He was India’s Foreign Secretary during 2004-2006. During his tenure, the then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited India for the first time in 5 years. His contributions in strengthening mutual understanding between Japan and India includes “India Festival”, which was held in Japan in 1988, when he was Deputy Chief of Mission of Embassy of India in Japan. Since 2017, Saran has been enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries, such as by hosting an “India-Japan Colloquium”.