ASEAN Prize Symposium 2024 convened

The 2024 ASEAN Prize Symposium, a flagship program to promote the ASEAN Prize and its role in regional integration, has successfully concluded today in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

The one-day event brought together the three latest ASEAN Prize winners in a dynamic debate platform, under the theme “ASEAN Regional Integration – The Journey of ASEAN Prize Laureates”. The three winners are the Mekong Institute (2021), Muhamad Iqbal Damit (2022) and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh (2023).

They took this opportunity to showcase their exemplary contributions, sharing their journeys towards advancing ASEAN regional integration, highlighting their perspectives and exemplary efforts in promoting a people-oriented and people-centred ASEAN Community.

Established in 2018, the ASEAN Prize is a premier annual regional award to recognize the inspiring achievements of ASEAN citizens or ASEAN-based organizations that have made significant contributions to advancing ASEAN community-building efforts. ASEAN. Administered by the ASEAN Secretariat and catalyzed by the Temasek Foundation, the ASEAN Prize awards selected awardees the ASEAN Prize trophy and a financial award of US$20,000.

ASEAN Prize 2023 laureate Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh said: “Receiving the ASEAN Prize is a testament to the power of dedication and perseverance. “My journey from a small village in Vietnam to becoming the first Vietnamese recipient of this prestigious award is a reflection of the incredible potential in each of us.”

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He added: “As we gather for the 2024 ASEAN Prize Symposium, I hope my story inspires others to pursue their dreams with passion and resilience, believing that no obstacle is too great when driven by a commitment to positive change. The spirit of the ASEAN Prize should be spread more widely in the ASEAN community through a group of ASEAN Prize laureates to promote creativity and goodwill in order to build a sustainable ASEAN Community, oriented and centered on people.

At the same time, Mekong Institute (MI) Executive Director Suriyan Vichitlekarn described MI’s transformative journey and what it meant for the institute to be awarded the ASEAN Prize. “Winning the ASEAN Award in 2021 was a great honour… although the real success of the IF is seen in the positive impact on the ground, demonstrating that what we do matters to communities and people. MI’s work has been a collective effort, and we must thank everyone who has supported its mission,” Suriyan revealed.

With more than 100 participants from diverse backgrounds in attendance, the Symposium, which aims to create greater awareness of the ASEAN Prize and facilitate the building of a common understanding among ASEAN individuals and entities on its potentials and critical roles in shaping a robust regional community, provided a credible platform for participants to gain insight into the achievements and promotion of ASEAN Prize laureates.

The 2024 ASEAN Prize Symposium is co-organized by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Mekong Institute, with the strong support of the ASEAN 2024 Lao PDR Presidency and the Temasek Foundation.

ASEAN Prize 2022 recipient Haji Muhamad Iqbal Fakhri bin Haji Damit, who was unable to attend the forum, shared a message with participants about his journey in launching youth-led initiatives that earned him the prestigious award. He stressed the importance of not only training young people, but also giving them the opportunity to lead. I don’t believe that young people are the leaders of the future. “They are the current leaders.”

Phetthanousone Phommalath, Socio-Cultural Director for the ASEAN Community of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, representing the ASEAN Presidency 2024, stated: “The forum is an excellent opportunity for academics, organizations, youth and student organizations and the private sector participate in the debate on the crucial roles in forming a strong regional community in a multifaceted thematic landscape. Furthermore, this forum will also encourage all stakeholders, including my fellow citizens, to take more active and impactful roles in fostering the ASEAN spirit and advancing regional cooperation and integration efforts.”

The symposium featured the “ASEAN Prize Talks” session and, through a breakout session, facilitated stakeholders to take on impactful roles in fostering the ASEAN spirit and advancing ASEAN cooperation efforts. regional integration.

Established in 2018, the ASEAN Prize is a premier annual regional award to recognize the inspiring achievements of ASEAN citizens

As administrator of the ASEAN Prize, the ASEAN Secretariat, represented by the Director of the Directorate of Community Affairs, Lee Yoong Yoong, highlighted: “As we embark on a year towards the Post-2025 Vision of the Community of ASEAN, envisioning greater collective ASEAN efforts to realize an inclusive, participatory and collaborative Community, the ASEAN Prize Symposium 2024 exemplifies the commitment of stakeholders. It further demonstrates an enhanced partnership, promoting a more integrated and vibrant ASEAN Community, and most importantly, resonates with the spirit of achieving the shared goal of ASEAN visions.” Lee was also the moderator in the interviews with the ASEAN Prize winners.

The catalyst funder of the ASEAN Prize, the Temasek Foundation, represented by James Chan, Senior Program Director, remarked: “In partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat, the Temasek Foundation has been supporting the ASEAN Prize since its inception in 2018.To build For a people-centred, inclusive and resilient ASEAN, we are committed to recognizing and honoring outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions. We hope that the ASEAN Prize will continue to inspire more individuals and organizations to contribute to the ASEAN community-building efforts. ASEAN collectively.”

The 2024 ASEAN Prize Symposium is co-organized by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Mekong Institute, with the strong support of the ASEAN 2024 Lao PDR Presidency and the Temasek Foundation.