MI warmly welcomed students from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. 26 outstanding students of the university led by Dr. Malcolm McKinnon Jane Gunn-Lewis, were selected for the educational trip as part of their academic course, Understanding Southeast Asia, supported by the New Zealand government. 

Headed by MI’s Director, Dr. Watcharas Leelawath along with Ms. Pornwilai Pumira, Associate Program Manager as well as representatives from each GMS country, MI delivered a presentation on its background and the students learned about MI’s role in the GMS Region and in the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). They were also very eager to learn more New Zealand’s involvement in the creation of MI. 

This is the second visit of Victoria University to MI. During their first visit in January of 2014, students learned that New Zealand has a strong historical link to MI. Since then, the university has been keen on revisiting MI.