KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — The Singapore-based Asean Studies Centre (ASC) of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) – Yusof Ishak Institute has been conferred the Asean Prize for promoting greater understanding and awareness of the 10-member bloc and contributing towards regional cooperation and integration.
The Asean Prize 2020 recipient was officially announced at the 37th Asean Summit opening ceremony in Hanoi today.
During the keynote speech, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute for being awarded the regional premier award.
Asean Secretary-General Datuk Lim Jock Hoi, in congratulating Yusof Ishak Institute, highlighted ASC’s insights and analyses on developments and trends in the region through research, publications, media engagement and outreach activities.
“This has helped policymakers, scholars and business leaders in their efforts in building and advancing the Asean Community,” he was quoted as saying in a statement released on the official website of Asean.
The Director of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Choi Shing Kwok, who is also Head of ASC, expressed his appreciation in receiving the award.
“The accolade is a recognition of the collective efforts of the entire ASC team, past and present. I am sure this will further inspire ASC to continue building on our efforts and mission of promoting research and understanding of Asean from a regional perspective,” he said.
The Asean Prize, administered by the Asean Secretariat, is sponsored by Temasek Foundation of Singapore and Yayasan Hasanah of Malaysia. The Prize recipient will receive a trophy and a cash prize of US$20,000. This year’s award ceremony will be convened separately following Covid-19 safety protocols.
Now in its third year, the Asean Prize honours the outstanding achievements of individuals or organisations who foster the Asean identity, promote the Asean spirit, champion the Asean, way and have significantly contributed towards Asean community-building efforts.
ASC is the first Asean-based organisation to receive the Prize. In 2018, Erlinda Uy Koe, a dedicated community leader and advocate of families with autism from the Philippines, received the inaugural Asean Prize for her contribution to foster an inclusive Asean community.
In 2019, Malaysian humanitarian leader Dr Jemilah Mahmood was selected as the Asean Prize recipient for her dedication in providing emergency needs and humanitarian response to the affected population in the region.
The 37th Asean Summit kicked-off Thursday morning amid the backdrop of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin leading the Malaysian delegation at the biannual summit virtually from Kuala Lumpur.
The summit is chaired by Xuan Phuc in his capacity as Asean Chair 2020 under the theme “Cohesive and Responsive Asean.”
— Bernama
