MI, US strengthen shared commitment to drive socioeconomic development across GMS

MI Headquarters, September 28, 2023 – Mekong Institute (MI) was honored to host a distinguished delegation from the United States Embassy in Thailand today, led by Ambassador Robert F. Godec. This visit marked a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and strengthening partnerships between MI and the United States.

Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, the Executive Director of MI, welcomed Ambassador Godec and the embassy team. During the visit, Mr. Suriyan provided an overview of MI’s mandate as an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting integration and cooperation among Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries.

Highlighting MI’s commitment to regional development, Mr. Suriyan emphasized the institute’s alignment with various regional cooperation frameworks. He outlined MI’s focus areas, including capacity development and policy support through initiaiting dialogues and spearheading developmental research.

Ambassador Godec commended MI’s efforts in implementing capacity development programs and its concrete contributions to fostering GMS integration. He underscored the importance of a strategic and synergistic vision among GMS cooperation frameworks to effectively address the region’s pressing challenges. Looking ahead, Ambassador Godec reaffirmed the commitment of the United States Embassy in Thailand to engage actively with MI and other development partners to advance collaborative solutions.

Mr. Suriyan reflected on MI’s successful past initiatives in partnership with various U.S. institutions. These initiatives spanned a wide array of areas, such as advancing sustainable manufacturing, improving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, enhancing food security and agriculture projects through a donor mapping database project, and strengthening MI’s capacity on cross border water resource management through a leadership program.

Mr. Suriyan also highlighted MI’s ongoing collaboration with Winrock International, a U.S.-based non-profit organization. This partnership aims to facilitate and scale up the adoption of climate-smart agricultural innovations through capacity-building activities and outreach efforts. This collaboration is made possible through the USDA-funded Regional Agriculture Innovation Network (RAIN) project. Representatives from Winrock International headed by its Chief of Party, Mr. William Spark, also graced the occasion.

Both parties expressed their enthusiasm for continued collaboration and their shared commitment to driving sustained socioeconomic development across the GMS.

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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.