The Mekong Institute (MI) was honored to welcome representatives from the Thailand Representative Office of China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. (CSG) and Lancang-Mekong Energy Consulting (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. (MECC).

MI and CSG have a longstanding partnership, which was further solidified by signing a Cooperation Framework Agreement on April 7, 2022. This collaboration, which began in 2015, has successfully facilitated twelve bilateral energy agreements, connected Lancang-Mekong (LM) policy leaders with international energy experts, and empowered 510 “power fellows” to advocate for clean power connectivity across the region. Notably, this partnership has also automated power distribution in Vietnam and enhanced power trading within the LM Region.

MECC was established in December 2023.  It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSG Lancang-Mekong International Co., Ltd. (CSG-LMI) that has been cooperating with countries in the Lancang-Mekong region for over 20 years, fostering deep partnerships and friendships. Authorized by CSG, CSG-LMI is the implementing partner for cooperative projects with MI from 2022 to 2025.

The recent meeting explored various avenues for continued cooperation between MI and MECC. Key areas of collaboration discussed included leveraging each strength to jointly conduct research and organize capacity-building activities. Additionally, plans were made for the upcoming event, “Powering the Future: Tech-Driven Energy Solutions in the Greater Mekong Subregion,” which is scheduled to be jointly organized with MECC in Vientiane on September 11, 2024.

“We are looking forward to closer collaboration with MECC,” remarked MI Executive Director Suriyan Vichitlekarn. “Our common goals for the energy sector in the LM region make this partnership both promising and indispensable.”

This visit underscores the dedication of MI and CSG to collaborative action, driving sustainable solutions to tackle transboundary challenges in the energy sector.