Radwa Ashraf “Asian countries have a lot in common to be shown in The AsiaN”

Interview/ Radwa Ashraf(Egypt, Managing Editor of the AsiaN in Arabic version, Writer of AJA at Cairo Office)

Q: Please introduce yourself.

I’m Radwa Ashraf, a 21 years old graduate from Ahram Canadian University, majoring in mass communication & Journalism. I’m an avid reader and a frequent reviewer, I spend too much time online, going through my blog, Goodreads account, Twitter & Facebook, just to name a few. I’m interested in knowing about different cultures and different people.

Q: You are one of founder members of The AsiaN Arabic version. What do you want to do by launching The AsiaN Arabic version?

To build the bridge I’ve always anticipated between Asia and me, or the Arab world, also breaking all the stereotypes people have of Asian countries. Asian countries have been for too long a big part in my life, whether through music, dramas, or its fascinating culture. I hope through The AsiaN, this culture would be introduced to more people and more people would come o understand the Asian culture, and vice versa.

Q: Please introduce your experience or special ties with other Asian countries.

As I’ve said, my ties with Asian culture started at really young age through “Anime”, it developed as I got older. Korea, Japan, China and many other Asian countries have been big part of my life since I was only 13. So I guess now the right thing to do is to introduce Arabs to Asian culture more, and introduce Asian to Arab culture too.

Q: Please tell us about your feeling during your visit to Korea including impressive, good, inconvenient, unsatisfied things. Everything would be okay.

This visit was one of my most anticipated dreams, my first visit to Korea! I was thrilled, excited and happy. Of course I wanted it to last a little more, but I was leaving with hopes that this was only the first of many times to visit Korea. Though the schedule was tight, the company of such nice people was great and sweet. I got to see many amazing things, and the mixture of technology and nature made the needed balance in the trip.

Q: Though the countries in Europe have different culture, languages, etc. but they established European Union (EU). In case of Asia, it is yet far from making that kind of thing. If Asian Union can be established, it might be possible that the center of the power can be moved from western countries to Asia. Please tell us your opinion of the Asian Union?

I’m gladly open to an idea of an Asian union, because Asian countries are so similar even more than the European countries that already have a union of their own. Asian countries share many things, despite some conflicts, so an Asian union would bring them more together.

Q: The launch of The AsiaN Arabic version and your visit to Korea represents the meeting between Middle East and Far East Asia, bipolar areas of Asia. What do you expect to The AsiaN? Do you think The AsiaN can contribute to unite Asian countries?

I’m expecting that the AsiaN would have a bigger role, as you can see it’s already a one-year anniversary coming, and three version with three languages are coming out beside the Korean language and that’s a huge achievement, I’m hoping this would be the start of a huge success. I hope that the AsiaN would surpass many well-known news networks.

Asian countries have a lot in common and if that can be shown in articles and media on The AsiaN that would really bring them more together. I really think that the AsiaN is capable of such role.