MI MLC WORKSHOP PUSHES FOR DEEPER CONNECTIVITY

Trade and Investment Facilitation

Mekong Institute (MI) remains committed in bridging connectivity through evidence-based studies to help establish innovative, inclusive, and integrated Mekong-Lancang communities.

This was the statement of Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, MI’s Director for Trade and Investment Facilitation, at an online dissemination workshop on April 30, 2021 for 76 Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC), government, academic, and think tank officials.  

The activity was designed to generate feedback on findings of the “Connectivity Issues for Enhancing Coordination among Mekong-Lancang Countries” study to forge deeper convergence in the areas of logistics systems, transport regulations, and people mobility.

Key recommendations included the establishment of an information sharing tool to keep government officials and private sector representatives abreast of multiple MLC projects; enhanced communication mechanisms and channels for continued feedbacking across the regional and national levels; and advanced capacity building support, particularly in Information Communication Technology.

These findings—which were culled by MI through rigorous research and online consultations with Mekong country nationals beginning in 2020—were analyzed based on the progress of ongoing MLC and other regional frameworks’ projects on railways, roads, waterways, aviation, ports, as well as cross-border e-commerce and other digital technologies to institutionalize deeper connectivity for the seamless and more effective movement of people, goods, and services across the region.

Results from the MI workshop will be consolidated into a final report for submission to governments of Mekong-Lancang countries. The online workshop was completed as part of MI’s “Capacity Building for National Coordinators of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation” project, which is implemented in collaboration with Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs supported by the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund.

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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.