Mekong Institute Young Scholars (MIYS) paid courtesy visits to senior leaders of China and development partners of MI on August 25-31, 2019. The visits aimed to enrich their understanding of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism and its contributions toward regional cooperation and integration as well as knowledge of China’s foreign affairs policies and development trends. Executive Director Dr. Watcharas Leelawath led the delegation consisting of MI staff and seven MIYS from China, Lao PDR, and Myanmar.  

The first stop was in Bangkok for courtesy calls to China Steering Committee Member Mr. Li Hong and Thailand International Cooperation Agency. It was followed by a series of courtesy visits in Kunming, China that included the Royal Thai Consulate General, Lancang-Mekong River Spatial Information Cooperation & Exchange Center, MI Coordinating Agency for China, Yunnan Academy of Science and Technology Development, Yunnan Power Grid Co., Ltd., and the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Province. They also visited Yunnan Vocational College of Transportation, wherein MI signed a MoU with the institute to foster human resource development in the transport sector in the Lancang-Mekong Region.

Dr. Leelawath expressed MI’s commitment to focus on digital economy and innovation in the next five years. He also requested for the continued support of the Chinese government especially from Yunnan Province and wished to engage in stronger cooperation with respective agencies.

Supported by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the MIYS Program is designed to develop the human resource capacities of public institutions involved in the LMC development and cooperation initiative by providing a structured learning opportunity and hands-on experience over a six-month period to selected nationals of the Lancang-Mekong Region.