Jakarta (VNA) – Singapore-based ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC) of the ISEAS-Yusof IshakInstitute (ISEAS) on November 12 washonoured with the ASEAN Prize, an annual regional premier award, for promoting greater understanding and awareness of ASEAN andcontributing towards regional cooperation and integration.

Now in its third year, the ASEAN Prize honours theoutstanding achievements of individuals or organisations who foster the ASEANidentity, promote the ASEAN spirit, champion the ASEAN way and havesignificantly contributed towards ASEAN community building efforts.

The ASEAN Prize 2020 recipient was announced at the 37thASEAN Summit Opening Ceremony virtuallyhosted by Vietnam. In his keynote speech, Vietnamese Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc congratulated the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute for being awarded.

“ASC’s insights and analyses on developments and trends inthe region through research, publications, media engagement and outreachactivities, have helped policymakers, scholars and business leaders in theirefforts in building and advancing the ASEAN Community,” said ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim in his congratulatory remarks.

Director of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Choi Shing Kwok, whois also Head of ASC, expressed his appreciation in receiving the award. “Theaccolade 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 onour efforts and mission of promoting research and understanding of ASEAN from aregional perspective,” he said.

Administeredby the ASEAN Secretariat, theASEAN Prize is sponsored by Singapore’s Temasek Foundation and Malaysia’s Yayasan Hasanah. ThePrize recipient will receive a trophy and a cash prize of 20,000 USD. This year’s award ceremony will beconvened separately, following COVID-19 safety protocols.

Established in 2008, ASC conducts policy research andanalysis on ASEAN’s development as an institution in support of ASEANintegration and community-building. Under this objective, ASC studies thepolitical-security, economic and socio-cultural trends in ASEAN through a rangeof research programmes, publications, events as well as institutional engagement. ASC also provides a regular platform forpolicymakers, scholars, public intellectuals, and business leaders to discussconstructive ideas that will help shape the development of the region andfoster a better understanding of ASEAN.

ASC is the first ASEAN-based organisation to receive thePrize. In 2018, Erlinda Uy Koe, a dedicated community leader and advocate offamilies with autism from the Philippines, received the inaugural ASEAN Prizefor her contribution to foster an inclusive ASEAN community. Last year, Malaysian humanitarian leaderDr. Jemilah Mahmood was selected forthe Prize for her dedication in providing emergency needs andhumanitarian response to affected population in the region./.