The People’s Government of Yunnan Province donated 5,000 face masks to Mekong Institute (MI) last April 23, 2020 in a gesture of solidarity and goodwill during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Yunnan Province has long been committed in working with MI to promote Lancang-Mekong cooperation,” His Excellency Zhang Guohao, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province, stated in his official communication to MI Executive Director Dr. Watcharas Leelawath. “We are here to help MI in our capacity as partner so we can jointly overcome this health crisis.”

Dr. Leelawath acknowledged the donation with gratitude and described the donation from MI’s council member as “magnanimous at a time when personal protective equipment are in shortage across the globe.” He added that the face masks will “help the 53-member MI staff safely push forward MI’s planned project activities in mid-2020.”

Dr. Leelawath also credited officials from the Yunnan International Regional Cooperation Office, Foreign Affairs Office, who have been steadfast in their technical guidance to MI as the latter implemented programs and projects supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, and more recently, the office’s swift facilitation in delivering the much-needed masks to the MI headquarters in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

The 5,000 face masks will be allocated to MI staff and training participants when the MI office opens and training activities resume on May 7, 2020 and July 1, 2020, respectively.