Mekong Institute Hosts Dialogue with Mekong River Commission to Enhance Regional Cooperation

July 5, 2024 –  Mekong Institute (MI) welcomed Dr. Anoulak Kittihoun, CEO of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat, and his team to its headquarters in Khon Kaen, Thailand. This visit marks a significant milestone in strengthening ties between MI and MRC, two key intergovernmental bodies dedicated to advancing sustainable development across the Mekong region.

The meeting explored various avenues of cooperation between MI and MRC, focusing on aligning efforts in ongoing initiatives. This strategic partnership seeks to leverage each organization strengths, ensuring complementarity in achieving shared developmental goals.

Key areas of collaboration discussed during the dialogue included adopting a nexus approach, focusing on the need for more coordinated and integrated management of the use of natural resources across sectors. Sustainable and active engagement with the private sector and industry was also highlighted as a critical consideration for integrated water management initiatives.

Additionally, discussions touched upon ongoing projects such as the Triangular Cooperation Project on Sustainable Development in the Lower Mekong River Basin based on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus or P-Link. Supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea, the P-LINK project is a collaborative effort involving the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, MI, MRC Secretariat, and the Science and Technology Policy Institute.

The meeting also addressed MI’s capacity-building project with the Australian Government as another area for collaboration. Supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this project aims to enhance MI’s support role for the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Interim Secretariat. The project includes facilitating learning exchanges and online knowledge-sharing sessions with the MRC.

“We are excited about the prospects of deeper collaboration with MRC”, remarked MI Executive Director Suriyan Vichitlekarn. “Our shared vision for sustainable development and our commitment to the Mekong region’s well-being make this partnership not only promising but essential.”

This visit underscores MI and MRC’s dedication to collaborative action, driving sustainable solutions to tackle complex regional challenges.

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.