Friday, November 25 2005 09:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai was today (Nov 25, 2005) honoured by the European Union for her contribution to diversity.

The former Miss World was presented with the 'Global Diversity Award' at a one-day conference on 'Celebrating Diversity in the European Union' at Lord's Cricket Ground here. "It is very humbling. I shall cherish this award for all times to come," Rai told PTI after receiving the award.

She thanked the Indian community for supporting her in all her ventures.

"I will also like to thank God and people at large for appreciating my contribution, particularly as a woman and as an Asian," she said.

"Aishwarya Rai is a symbol of what Asian women can achieve and a real international symbol for diversity," Keith Vaz MP and Co-Chair of the conference had said yesterday (Nov 24, 2005).

Vaz said the conference would help EU to "refocus our goals and inspire the minds of leading individuals across Europe."

"We are in dire need of a fresh approach to integration and of finding inspiration in a diverse environment which recognizes and nurtures the talents of all people within our great European community, regardless of religion, culture or ethnicity," he said.