U Thein Sein receives the 3rd Asia Cosmopolitan Award
Former Myanmar’s president U Thein Sein this afternoon received the Grand Prize of the 3rd Asia Cosmopolitan Awards (ACA) in recognition of his contributions to his country’s reform efforts and democratization under his leadership.
In his acceptance speech, Thein Sein said as Myanmar’s president, he wanted his country to be a peaceful and prosperous democratic country. "To create a better future for the younger generations. To become a develop country which can share its wealth to Asia.”
The award ceremony was held at Nara Kasugano International Forum IRAKA, Noh Theatre, attended by 550 participants including diplomats. Former Secretary General of Asean, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, who presented the award, called him the reformist president.
“The growing democratization in the country has led to increase recognition from international community and end of sanctions,” Thein Sein said adding that Myanmar has contributed to peace and prosperity in ASEAN when the country served as the chair in 2014.
The Economic and Social Science Prize was awarded to Professor Masahisa Fujita of Konan University for work in the field of Spatial Geography. The Cultural Prize was given to HE Herman Van Rompuy, the first full time President of European Council and an accomplished Haiku poet, for his Haiku poetry.
In accepting his award, Professor Masahisa stressed the need for a spatial geography that addresses ethnic and cultural issues. “We live in a time when the globalizing world is facing many challenges including especially increasing income gaps for many advanced countries which cause serious social problems.”
These differences, he added, have become areas for friction especially in the less developed regions of the world. “I hope my research will make a more inclusive and fair society,” he said.
For Professor van Rompuy, the Asia-Europe relations are not on only economic but also on shared human values. “Culture is often a more solid basis for a lasting relationship than only trade and investment,” he reiterated.
Apart from being a cultural link between Europe and Asia, he emphasized the power of Haiku as a poetry of harmony that can bring people together. “In today’s world we need truth, goodness and beauty.” He added Haiku is about authentic experiences, not about fake feelings.
This award aims to recognize on a biennial basis individuals(s) or organization(s) that have made substantial and significant contributions to the development of a peaceful and stability East Asian Community, to narrow the development gaps in the region, as well as to establish the sustainable social growth towards cultural and economic integration within the region.