MI OPENS FTZ DEVELOPMENT E-TRAINING

Sustainable Energy and Environment

Mekong Institute (MI) opened day one of its “Capacity Building for Regional Economic Integration and Innovation for Free Trade Zone Development in the Lancang-Mekong Region” e-training today from the MI Headquarters in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Set to run from March 22 to April 2, 2021, 35 government, academic researchers, and private sector representatives from Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam will be exposed to international and regional concepts and practices on free trade zone (FTZ) development, with focus on P.R. China’s pilot program to equip participants in contributing to future economic zone development in their respective Lancang-Mekong countries.

“As agents of change, we encourage you to share the practical lessons from this program to your networks,” Ms. Jian Wang, Program Coordinator of MI’s Sustainable Energy and Environment Department, said during the opening session.  

She explained that deeper understanding of the merits of FTZ will accelerate the course towards a “more modern business landscape that is characterized by open domestic and foreign trade and active foreign direct investments for the benefit of people in the region.”

The online sessions also include activities that will help enhance participants’ cross-cultural communication skills for wider interaction and collaboration among Lancang-Mekong region nationals.

Supported by the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, this is the second FTZ development and cross-cultural communications training program after its successful implementation in 2020, where 35 Lancang-Mekong nationals completed the course.

At the end of the 2021 online training, participants will implement knowledge and skills sharing in their home countries as part of their action plan implementation.

Related News

Scroll to Top

Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.