A Chinese environmentalist using the power of the internet to promote cleaner industry, a Vietnamese doctor bringing cutting-edge medicine to children and an Indian social reformer tackling two of his country's biggest challenges -- poor hygiene and discrimination -- have been awarded this year's Nikkei Asia Prizes.

The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Asia's development.

The recipients of the 23rd Nikkei Asia Prizes are:
Ma Jun, China, founding director, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE)
Ma Jun leads a nongovernmental organization that produces an online pollution database, presenting the information in an easy-to-search format organized by region. The institute also publishes indexes of corporate work to benefit the environment, spurring provincial governments and industry to strengthen their protection efforts.

Nguyen Thanh Liem, Vietnam, director, Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology
Nguyen Thanh Liem, one of Vietnam's leading pediatric physicians, in 1997 performed the country's first minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery on a child. He went on to introduce robo-assisted surgery and other advanced technology that has brought life-changing treatments to children.

Bindeshwar Pathak, India, founder, Sulabh International
Bindeshwar Pathak founded an NGO in 1970 that has built Sulabh flush composting toilets throughout India, contributing to better sanitation, safety for rural women and freedom from the manual labor of removing human waste, long a source of stigma in Indian society.