UNITED NATIONS: Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai and Jack Ma of China’s Alibaba group topped the list of Asian game changers at a ceremony held at the United Nations on Thursday night.

Speakers on the occasion recognised “those making a transformative and positive difference for the future of Asia and the world.”

Shanghai Normal Univer­sity professor Zhang Min­xuan was also recognised by the Asia Society, a press release issued here said.

Malala Yousufzai in a video address said: “There are so many countries and issues that children are suffering through, but there are game-changers as well who are going to speak, who are going to change the game and who are going to work for their future. We have to do it together.”

Ma, who was recognised for his philanthropic contributions and innovative vision also spoke at the ceremony.

“I never thought I’d have a chance to be at the United Nations,” Ma said and recounted his rise from humble beginnings.

“Small is beautiful,” he told the audience, adding that he was there to represent “all the small guys.” Drawing on his early years as a teacher, Ma said that as an educator “You believe knowledge will change people’s lives,” and explained that for him, the title CEO is an acronym for “Chief Education Officer” of his company.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saluted the “array of remarkable Asians” being honoured, noting that “the world got a head start” on the evening’s proceedings with last week’s announcement that the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize would be shared by two Asians, Pakistan’s Malala Yousufzai and India’s Kailash Satyarthi.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2014