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A ceremony of presentation of 2016 Spring Imperial Decoration of the Japanese government to Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Abid Sharifov was held in Baku, Azertac reported.

Japan announced 91 foreign recipients of the 2016 Spring Imperial Decorations this April.

Sharifov was among those foreign recipients and he received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in recognition of his outstanding contributions and support to the strengthening of friendly and partnership relations between Japan and Azerbaijan, particularly in the sphere of economy as well as promoting mutual understanding between the two countries.

Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi, addressing the event, hailed Sharifov's contribution to the development of friendly relations as co-chair of the Azerbaijan-Japan Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the two countries.

He described the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun as the highest among Japan's awards presented to foreign citizens.

The award was signed by Japan's Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Sharifov, in turn, thanked Japan for this high state award.

Saying he has many times been to Japan, Sharifov highlighted the hospitality and diligence of the Japanese people. "The greatest wealth of Japan is its people," he added.

Hailing Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev's official visit to Japan in 1998, the Deputy Premier noted that this visit contributed to the development of relations between the two countries.

"As the continuation of this policy President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Japan in 2006 strengthened the bilateral ties even further and gave a powerful impetus to the overall development of cooperation between Japan and Azerbaijan," he said.

Sharifov also hailed the importance of the projects implemented in Azerbaijan through Japanese loans.

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