The e-book, titled 'Inside Asia's Hidden Heritage Treasures,' serves as a definitive peek into the soul of Asia, moving beyond geopolitical headlines to explore the spiritual, cultural, and historical threads that bind the world's largest continent together.
You can download the e-book here.
What Readers Will Discover
The e-book serves as an essential primer for both Asian readers and global readers, featuring:
- A Tapestry of Traditions: A look at the many heritage sites across the region, from tropical rainforests to majestic structures both ancient and modern.
- The 'Asian Century': An exploration of how cultural pillars and diverse religious influences have shaped a modern hub of innovation.
- Asia's Best-Kept Secrets: A reminder of Asian marvels, history and the core values of community, morality, and harmony with nature.
A Vision of Resilience and Modernity
Current ANN Chairperson and Chief Content Officer of Star Media Group (Malaysia), Esther Ng, emphasises that the publication is a celebration of Asia's unique ability to evolve while honouring its roots.
'Asia is living proof of heritage and legacy living on and evolving,' says Ng. 'This is where ancient legacies and ultra-modern facets exist together. To understand Asia is to know Asia – a region rich in cultural diversity, economic vitality, and the fastest adoption of technology in the world.'
Of course, Asia's achievements go beyond its many material milestones: 'Much of Asia's sense of wonder is rooted in its philosophies, which influences its people's understanding of community, morality and behaviour – respect for elders, harmony with nature and interconnectivity with the larger whole.'
Overall, the e-book focuses on Asia's 'winning factors' that boost global togetherness. 'We inherited a priceless form of heritage which speaks of endurance and survival – the two most accurate descriptions of all things Asian,' Ng adds.
Reclaiming the Asian Story
The project also addresses a long-standing challenge in regional media: the reliance on Western perspectives. Former ANN Chairman Mahfuz Anam, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of The Daily Star (Bangladesh), notes that ANN was founded 27 years ago specifically to address this imbalance.
'Our mutual understanding mostly depended on how foreign news agencies and globally reputed newspapers covered us,' Mahfuz explains, stating that said coverage gave a perspective which could often be problematic.
'This awareness led 20 leading English-language dailies and a select number of national news agencies of Asia from Japan to Pakistan, covering most of the countries of Asia, to form a network to exchange news, views and features about ourselves for the reading and viewing of the general public of our respective countries.'
'This e-book is an integral part of our "journey of rediscovery". The more we know about ourselves, the more we are at ease in dealing with others. It helps us appreciate our differences and, in turn, respect them,' Mahfuz adds.
A Necessity in a Globalised World
With the rise of the 'Asian Century', both leaders agree that regional co-operation is no longer a luxury, but a necessity: 'The next steps must be taken not in isolation, but in building bridges and bonds among the Asian people,' Ng asserts.
This e-book is the first in a planned series, with a second volume already in the works to continue documenting the vast plethora of Asian culture.
The ANN e-books are produced in partnership with Lion Rock Group, a global leader in book printing and print management, trusted by the world's top book publishers, education innovators, and creators across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Visit: https://www.lionrock.hk/.
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About Asia News Network (ANN):
About Asia News Network (ANN): Founded in 1999, the Asia News Network is an alliance of 20 leading news titles from 20 Asian countries. Its mission is to provide a platform for regional news and views, promoting mutual understanding and 'Bringing Asia Closer' through the active sharing of editorial content and professional collaboration.
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