New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today congratulated former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh upon being awarded Japan's high civilian order - The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers.

"A rare and well-deserved recognition of a Statesman by the Government of Japan, the award to Dr Singh makes us, as indeed the entire nation proud," she said. Sonia said that the award rightly recognises Singh's distinguished and significant contributions towards enhancement of relations and the promotion of friendship between Japan and India for 35 years.