ADB COUNTRY DIRECTOR: CONSIDER ME A SUPPORTER

I’ll do what I can do to support MI more. Consider me a supporter, said Mr. Craig Steffensen (Country Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Thailand) during his productive visit at the Mekong Institute (MI) last Friday, October 21, 2011. 
Mr. Craig Steffensen, accompanied by Dr. Rattanatay Luanglatbandith, (Regional Cooperation Economist, ADB) visited the Mekong Institute for a courtesy call and stayed the afternoon for a discussion on current activities at MI, highlighting joint projects with ADB. Everywhere I go, I meet alumni from the Mekong Institute, and I only hear good things about you, expressed Mr. Steffensen in his introduction. I’ve followed MI through the years and the thematic areas that you now have show how much youve grown. The last time he had been to the Mekong Institute was in 1998, when the organization was merely two years old. During a presentation on trade and investment issues, Mr. Steffensen added that if there’s anything ADB can do to help, especially with information on the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and related projects, they would be pleased to share their findings. He also said that there should be more talks about the linkages along these corridors, because trade does not stop where the corridors end. After MI, Mr. Steffensen, Dr. Luanglatbandith and Dr. Suchat Katima (Director of MI) paid a visit to MIs Council Member and President of Khon Kaen University, Dr. Kittichai Triratanasirichai.

Mr. Steffensen and MI staff

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.