Former Japanese Ambassador Tadashi Nagai will receive the title of honorary citizen of Belgrade on Friday, August 20, City Council President Aleksandar Antic told Tanjug.

Nagai has made a great contribution to improving the quality of life in Belgrade, worked tirelessly on reconstruction projects in the city and demonstrated a rare gift of transforming cultural and civilizational differences between Serbia and Japan into ties bringing the two peoples closer, Antic said.

A great part of Nagai's personal and professional life was linked with Belgrade and its residents, and his friendship goes far beyond diplomatic courtesy and leaves noone indifferent, which is why he merits the award, Antic said.

The City Council decided to give the award to Nagai on June 7, with the approval of Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas.

Since 2000, Japan has given the largest donations to Serbia and Belgrade and Nagai largely contributed to this, Djilas said at the time. Japan provided help for public transport, water management, hospitals, health care centers, and this is a way in which Belgrade citizens can thank those who help them, Djilas said.

Other recipients of the award were former South African president Nelson Mandela and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.