Wuhan, China | July 13, 2026 — Mekong Institute (MI) Executive Director Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn participated in the opening ceremony of the 10th Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region’s Governance and Development (YICMG) held at Wuhan University, China, on 13 July 2026, where he delivered the keynote speech highlighting the importance of youth innovation, knowledge exchange, and regional cooperation in advancing sustainable development across the Lancang-Mekong region.
The 10th YICMG brought together young innovators, university representatives, policymakers, experts, and partners from the six Lancang-Mekong countries to exchange innovative ideas and explore solutions to regional development challenges. As a long-standing partner of the initiative, MI contributed to the review and evaluation of competition entries and supported the establishment of a dedicated international organization track, reflecting its continued commitment to promoting youth engagement, innovation, and people-to-people connectivity under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework.
In his keynote speech, Mr. Suriyan emphasized that youth are a driving force for regional cooperation and innovation. He highlighted that the future development of the Lancang-Mekong region depends on strengthening collaboration among governments, universities, international organizations, and young leaders.
He noted that platforms such as YICMG provide valuable opportunities for young people to transform creativity and knowledge into practical solutions addressing shared regional challenges, while also fostering mutual understanding and long-term partnerships among the six countries.
“Innovation is not only about generating new ideas, but also about creating meaningful solutions that respond to the real needs of communities. Through stronger cooperation among youth, universities, and regional institutions, we can build a more connected, innovative, and sustainable Lancang-Mekong community,” Mr. Suriyan said.
On the sidelines of the event, Mr. Suriyan held a bilateral meeting with Professor Zhou Lei, Vice President of Fudan University, where both sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in areas including youth development, academic exchange, regional research, and capacity building.
The two sides recognized the complementary strengths of Fudan University and MI. Fudan University brings strong academic expertise, research capacity, and experience in youth engagement initiatives such as YICMG, while MI contributes its regional networks, development experience, and convening role as an intergovernmental organization serving the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Following the bilateral discussion, MI and the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 13 July 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in collaborative research, policy dialogue, youth leadership development, innovation promotion, and knowledge exchange.
At the MOU signing ceremony, Mr. Suriyan highlighted that the partnership represents a shared commitment to leveraging knowledge, innovation, and people-to-people connectivity to support sustainable and inclusive development in the Lancang-Mekong region.
“This partnership reflects our common belief that universities and regional organizations have a critical role in connecting knowledge with practice, empowering the next generation of leaders, and translating innovative ideas into actions that benefit communities across the region,” Mr. Suriyan remarked.
Mr. Suriyan expressed appreciation to Fudan University for its commitment to regional cooperation and youth engagement, and looked forward to developing a productive and long-lasting partnership that will create greater opportunities for institutions, young people, and communities across the Lancang-Mekong countries.
The signing of the MOU marks an important step in strengthening collaboration between MI and Fudan University and contributes to broader efforts to promote regional connectivity, innovation-driven development, and cooperation under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework.
