Manmohan Singh receives 'Asia Cosmopolitan Award'
The prestigious Grand Prize of Asia Cosmopolitan Awards has been given to former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his contribution to economic reforms and openness of the world's largest democracy as well as the community-building in East Asia.
Under his leadership, India has also expanded its economic profiles in the region and strengthen ties with ASEAN. India and ASEAN last year commemorated their 20th anniversary of relationship.
The previous Grand Prize in 2012 was given to Dr. Supachai Panichapakdhi, former director general of World Trade Organization and UN Conferences on Trade and Development.
The awarding ceremony will be held on December 21 2014 in Nara, Japan, at the city’s landmark, Noh Theatre.
Other recipients in the field of social science include Prof Peter Drysdale of Australian National University and Prof Wang Gungmu of National Singapore University.
Prof Drysdale is an Australian economist specialized in international trade and economic policy and diplomacy. His research on the East Asian economy has led to various efforts by the governments in the region to strengthen their economic cooperation. One such scheme was the establishment of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in 1979. Currently, he is an emeritus professor of economics and visiting fellow at Crawford School of Economics and Government, Australian National University.
Another recipient is the world’s famous Singaporean historian, Prof Wang Gungwu of National University of Singapore. His extensive works on the history of China and Southeast Asia has contributed significantly to the understanding of interactions between the two regions.
The Cultural Prize goes to Cambodian film director Rithy Panh and the Takarazuka Revue of Japan.
Rithy has been called the Cambodian Akira Kurosawa, the versatile Japanese film director. Rithy’s latest documentary film, The Missing Picture, was warded the UN Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013.
The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It will commemorate its 100-year anniversary this year. The performers have to go rigorous training before taking stage’s roles.
The Asia Cosmopolitan Awards was initiated by the Jakarta-based Economic Institute of ASEAN and East Asia and given on a biennial basis to individuals or organizations that have made substantial and significant contribution to the development of peaceful and stable East Asia.
The press conference for the awards will be held in Phnom Penh on 22 October. Rithy Panh will attend the conference with Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director of ERIA.