From Khairdzir Yunus 
TOKYO, April 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was today conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Meiji University.
Meiji University President Hiromi Naya conferred the honorary degree on Najib at a special ceremony at the university here this morning.
Present were Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim who is the acting Foreign Minister and Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Datuk Shaharuddin Md Som.
In his acceptance speech, Najib said he felt honoured to be conferred the honorary doctorate from the Meiji University, a university that was held in a very high esteem in Japan for its many contributions and sterling achievements.
He said he strongly believed that Malaysia and Japan can engage in various initiatives at different levels to achieve mutual benefit and shared goals.
"First, both nations can foster closer understanding and collaboration through smart partnership, academic engagements and corporate joint ventures.
"Secondly, we can share resources to create value in an open innovation ecosystem that will benefit both countries at various levels.
"For example, there can be increased student and staff mobility between universities engaging in innovative projects in various areas of concern that will benefit all parties," he said.
He said in addition, both countries could extend the existing framework such as the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) with the Malaysian Vice Chancellors Council on areas of importance such as sustainability and innovative technology.
Najib said another initiative could be to revisit the idea of the establishment of Malaysia Japan University as a symbol of their renewed commitment in bilateral relations and in the quest for a more vibrant and dynamic ecosystem for intellectual collaboration.
"Nevertheless the success of this endeavour hinges upon our mutual commitment to move forward," he added.
He said the Japanese government has long supported Malaysian academics resulting in high-impact academic collaboration and joint research, while encouraging the mobility of experts between the countries for many years.
In addition, he said, Japanese companies such as Hitachi and Panasonic had also provided scholarships and fellowships for higher degrees and joint research projects.
"In relation to this, I am happy to announce that Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, one of the top tier universities in Malaysia, will be setting up a UTM Tokyo Satellite Office based in Meiji University which will further enhance the academic ties and research collaborations already existing between our two nations in areas of concern," he said.
He said through Research University Collaborations, nations could be linked through effective engagements in pertinent research areas that would contribute to knowledge and expertise in relevant fields such as sustainability and innovation as well as other economic and socio-environmental issues currently impacting the world.
The Prime Minister said at the same time, Malaysia was committed to provide facilities and incentives to welcome Japanese research companies to set up operation in Malaysia.
"We are ready to create a more vibrant and fertile research environment that would support a more creative and innovative investment ecosystem, contributing to the synergistic well being of both nations," Najib said.
He also said that without doubt the Look East Policy which was now entering its 28th year had managed to become a magnet attracting Japanese companies to invest and to set up their businesses and bases in Malaysia.
These investments, he said, had allowed Malaysia to move up the ladder to become an upper middle income nation within the space of a decade.
He said Malaysia and Japan were two old friends and their friendship was an enduring relationship predicated upon a common and mutual worldview.
"Ours is not a relationship of fair weather friends, it is one that has withstood the test of time over the years as both nation work on the possibilities rather than being fixated by the past," he said.
He said Malaysia was indeed appreciative of Japan's participation in Malaysia's progress and development over the years.
Najib also said that Japan could play a pivotal role in helping Malaysia's transformation from an industrial economy to an innovation economy.
He said in the field of education through the Look East Policy more than 15,000 Malaysians have benefited, a big number of them engineers and professionals that graduated from universities in Japan, with many of them currently occupying mid to high level positions in the public and private sectors in Malaysia.
He said Malaysia could indeed benefit from a much broader education, human resources and capacity building cooperation, especially between institutions of higher learning.
He said their collaborations must take their relationship to new heights.
"The synergy can create new avenues of cooperation not only in science and technology but also in the cultural milieu.
"For as much as Malaysia can learn from Japan's strength in terms of science and technological advancement, Japan can also gain from Malaysia's diverse expertise; from oceanography to forestry, from palm oil to tropical medicine, and from Islamic finance to multi-cultural engagement," he said.
Najib who is currently on a four-day official visit to Japan since Sunday had earlier had a breakfast meeting with Japanese parliamentarians at the New Otani Hotel here.
After the conferment ceremony, he was slated to address the Japanese business community at a luncheon held at the same hotel, attend a closed door roundtable meeting with Japanese captains of industry, and a dinner with Malaysians and Malaysian students before leaving for home.
TOKYO, April 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was today conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Meiji University.Meiji University President Hiromi Naya conferred the honorary degree on Najib at a special ceremony at the university here this morning.
Present were Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim who is the acting Foreign Minister and Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Datuk Shaharuddin Md Som.
In his acceptance speech, Najib said he felt honoured to be conferred the honorary doctorate from the Meiji University, a university that was held in a very high esteem in Japan for its many contributions and sterling achievements.
He said he strongly believed that Malaysia and Japan can engage in various initiatives at different levels to achieve mutual benefit and shared goals.
"First, both nations can foster closer understanding and collaboration through smart partnership, academic engagements and corporate joint ventures.
"Secondly, we can share resources to create value in an open innovation ecosystem that will benefit both countries at various levels.
"For example, there can be increased student and staff mobility between universities engaging in innovative projects in various areas of concern that will benefit all parties," he said.
He said in addition, both countries could extend the existing framework such as the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) with the Malaysian Vice Chancellors Council on areas of importance such as sustainability and innovative technology.
Najib said another initiative could be to revisit the idea of the establishment of Malaysia Japan University as a symbol of their renewed commitment in bilateral relations and in the quest for a more vibrant and dynamic ecosystem for intellectual collaboration.
"Nevertheless the success of this endeavour hinges upon our mutual commitment to move forward," he added.
He said the Japanese government has long supported Malaysian academics resulting in high-impact academic collaboration and joint research, while encouraging the mobility of experts between the countries for many years.
In addition, he said, Japanese companies such as Hitachi and Panasonic had also provided scholarships and fellowships for higher degrees and joint research projects.
"In relation to this, I am happy to announce that Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, one of the top tier universities in Malaysia, will be setting up a UTM Tokyo Satellite Office based in Meiji University which will further enhance the academic ties and research collaborations already existing between our two nations in areas of concern," he said.
He said through Research University Collaborations, nations could be linked through effective engagements in pertinent research areas that would contribute to knowledge and expertise in relevant fields such as sustainability and innovation as well as other economic and socio-environmental issues currently impacting the world.
The Prime Minister said at the same time, Malaysia was committed to provide facilities and incentives to welcome Japanese research companies to set up operation in Malaysia.
"We are ready to create a more vibrant and fertile research environment that would support a more creative and innovative investment ecosystem, contributing to the synergistic well being of both nations," Najib said.
He also said that without doubt the Look East Policy which was now entering its 28th year had managed to become a magnet attracting Japanese companies to invest and to set up their businesses and bases in Malaysia.
These investments, he said, had allowed Malaysia to move up the ladder to become an upper middle income nation within the space of a decade.
He said Malaysia and Japan were two old friends and their friendship was an enduring relationship predicated upon a common and mutual worldview.
"Ours is not a relationship of fair weather friends, it is one that has withstood the test of time over the years as both nation work on the possibilities rather than being fixated by the past," he said.
He said Malaysia was indeed appreciative of Japan's participation in Malaysia's progress and development over the years.
Najib also said that Japan could play a pivotal role in helping Malaysia's transformation from an industrial economy to an innovation economy.
He said in the field of education through the Look East Policy more than 15,000 Malaysians have benefited, a big number of them engineers and professionals that graduated from universities in Japan, with many of them currently occupying mid to high level positions in the public and private sectors in Malaysia.
He said Malaysia could indeed benefit from a much broader education, human resources and capacity building cooperation, especially between institutions of higher learning.
He said their collaborations must take their relationship to new heights.
"The synergy can create new avenues of cooperation not only in science and technology but also in the cultural milieu.
"For as much as Malaysia can learn from Japan's strength in terms of science and technological advancement, Japan can also gain from Malaysia's diverse expertise; from oceanography to forestry, from palm oil to tropical medicine, and from Islamic finance to multi-cultural engagement," he said.
Najib who is currently on a four-day official visit to Japan since Sunday had earlier had a breakfast meeting with Japanese parliamentarians at the New Otani Hotel here.
After the conferment ceremony, he was slated to address the Japanese business community at a luncheon held at the same hotel, attend a closed door roundtable meeting with Japanese captains of industry, and a dinner with Malaysians and Malaysian students before leaving for home.
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