In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening announced Padma Shri award for one individual from each Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) country.
The Padma Shri award will be conferred upon Brunei's Malai Haji Abdullah Bin MalaiHaji Othman, Cambodia's Hun Many, Indonesia's I NyomanNuarta, Laos' BounlapKeokangna, Malaysia's DatukRamli Bin Ibraham, Myanmar's Dr Thant Myint-U, Philippines' Jose Ma Joey Concepcion III, Singapore's Tommy Koh, Thailand's SomdetPhraAriyaWongsaKhottayan, Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Thien.
The announcement comes on the occasion of silver jubilee of India-ASEAN partnership and the 69th Republic Day.
On Friday, all 10 ASEAN leaders will be the chief guests at Republic Day celebrations.
ASEAN is a 10-nation group, which includes--Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. 1 Observer - Papua New Guinea.