GMS GOVERNMENTS AND PARTNERS SUPPORT MI’S PARTNERSHIP APPROACH

Agricultural Development and Commercialization ,Trade and Investment Facilitation ,Sustainable Energy and Environment ,Digital Economy and Digitalization

Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) government leaders, as well as international development partners concurred with Mekong Institute’s (MI) efforts to broaden public-private engagements for the further alignment of COVID-19 recovery efforts at the online Steering Committee and Council Meetings on August 26 and 27, 2021.  

“Stronger engagement focusing on people-centered development will safeguard the well-being of our people,” H.E. Mr. Cui Moahu, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, P.R. China and newly-appointed MI Council Chair, stated, after receiving MI’s six-month performance report.

MI’s 2021 activities has been contributing to “build forward better” strategies, as reflected by the intergovernmental organization’s ongoing support of small- and medium-sized enterprises for their better adaption to e-commerce practices, its preparation of the local tourism sector to internalize smart technologies, and release of research studies that underscore GMS-tailored interventions in food security, digitalization, and cross-border management.

These program deliveries, which are being implemented alongside MI’s ongoing portfolio on food safety, trade and investment facilitation, sustainable energy and environment, are aligned with prevailing regional cooperation priorities and policy directions.

Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, MI Steering Committee Chairman, also observed MI’s efforts in deepening collaboration with GMS agencies and international partners to contribute to the narrowing of development gaps, particularly in the area of digital connectivity to help revive local businesses and limit people-to-people contact among those engaged in cross-border trade.

Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI Executive Director, explained that continued partnership-building activities will be reinforced, as MI secured eight new partners to implement 10 projects in the coming months.

In addition to program performance reporting, Governing Board members, who hold seats in the Steering Committee and Council, have also recommended the extension of MI’s 25th anniversary campaign, given that key events, such as the Development Partners’ Meeting, were placed on hold due to the pandemic. The updated timeline of August 28, 2021 to August 27, 2022 will allow MI to meet targets of partnership building, networking, and advocacy of GMS interests.

Members of the Governing Board comprising government officials from Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as officials from the Asian Development Bank, New Zealand Aid Programme, Khon Kaen University, and Hue University, will reconvene in December 2021 to review MI’s commitments and assess deliveries completed in the final half of the year.

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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.