Conferment of Decoration (The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon) Dr Jonathan Koon-shum CHOI (Chairman of Sunwah Group)

 
    On 3 November 2022, the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the Reiwa 4 Autumn Conferment of Decorations. The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon has been conferred on Dr Jonathan Koon-shum CHOI,  Chairman of Sunwah Group, in recognition of his contribution to promoting economic exchange between Japan and China.  

・Conferment:                    The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
・Major accomplishment:  Contributed to promoting economic exchange between Japan and China.
・Recipient’s Name:          Jonathan Koon-shum CHOI
・Main career:                    Chairman of Sunwah Group, Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Former Chairman of Kong-Japan Business Co-operation Committee
・Place of residence (Nationality): Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China (China)  

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    Dr Jonathan Koon-shum CHOI has made outstanding contributions towards the development of economic exchanges and other related activities between Japan and Hong Kong during his 40 years as the Chairman of Sunwah Group, 6 years as Chairman of the Hong Kong–Japan Business Co-operation Committee, 8 years as Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and 10 years as Permanent Honorary President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
 
    Dr CHOI serves as the Standing Committee Member of the 13^th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the P.R.C and as Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union.  He is trusted by the Chinese Government and in Hong Kong's political and business circles and has extensive personal connections. In relation to his achievements, apart from receiving the "Friends of Diplomacy" honour from the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the P.R.C. in Hong Kong, he was also awarded the “Grand Bauhinia Medal” (Hong Kong's highest honour) by the Hong Kong S.A.R. Government, as well as the Foreign Minister’s Commendation from the Japanese Government.
 
    Furthermore, Dr CHOI has a deep-rooted affinity with Japan. He undertook a one-year course at a Japanese language school in Kyoto when he was around 20 years of age and, as a consequence, is profoundly in love with Japanese culture. He visits Japan frequently and has many connections with Japan, both in Japan itself and Hong Kong.
 
    In 2018, the “CHOI Koon-Shum Japanese Cultural Center” was opened at Kyushu University as an exchange centre for research on East Asian history, culture and education. This demonstrates the high regard and appreciation that Dr CHOI holds for Japanese and Asian cultural affairs.
 
    Dr CHOI has promoted private-sector cooperation between Japan and Hong Kong, as well as cooperation between Japan and China and ASEAN countries for many years. He has also nurtured friendly relations with many Japanese politicians and entrepreneurs.
 
    Based on his belief that Japan and China, as East Asian neighbours, should maintain a close relationship, Dr CHOI has endlessly promoted the development of friendly relations between Japan and China, pushing forward with various activities to promote friendly relations in East Asia and between ASEAN countries.