STUDENTS OF VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON VISITS THE MEKONG INSTITUTE JANUARY 26, 2015

MI warmly welcomed students from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. 26 outstanding students of the university led by Dr. Malcolm McKinnon Jane Gunn-Lewis, were selected for the educational trip as part of their academic course, Understanding Southeast Asia, supported by the New Zealand government. 

Headed by MI’s Director, Dr. Watcharas Leelawath along with Ms. Pornwilai Pumira, Associate Program Manager as well as representatives from each GMS country, MI delivered a presentation on its background and the students learned about MI’s role in the GMS Region and in the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). They were also very eager to learn more New Zealand’s involvement in the creation of MI. 

This is the second visit of Victoria University to MI. During their first visit in January of 2014, students learned that New Zealand has a strong historical link to MI. Since then, the university has been keen on revisiting MI.

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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.