On 9 September 2020, Ms. Lada Phumas, Director of the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) and H.E. Dr. Anuson Chinvanno, Director of International Studies Center (ISC) of the DVIFA, in the capacity of Director and Coordinator of GCMS Thailand Center, participated in the online Global Center for Mekong Studies (GCMS) Coordinators’ Meeting for 2020.

          The Meeting was attended by Directors and Coordinators of all GCMS national centers from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam and co-chaired by Dr. Rong Ying, Vice President of China Institute of Intenational Studies (CIIS) as Director of GCMS China Center and U Nyunt Maung Shein, Chairman of Myanmar Institute of Strategic and Intenational Studies and Director of GCMS Myanmar Center.

          The objectives of the Meeting were to officially hand over the GCMS co – chairmanship from Laos to Myanmar and also to discuss the GCMS joint research project for 2020 under the theme “New International Land – Sea Trade Corridor (NILSTC) and the Role of Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC)”. On this occasion, the Director of the DVIFA introduced Dr. Anuson Chinvanno, the new Director of GCMS Thailand Center to the Meeting. The GCMS Coordinators’ Meeting was conducted virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

          The GCMS, officially founded on 28 September 2017 in Phnom Pehn, is a network of think tanks for academic exchange and cooperation among the Mekong Lancang Cooperation (MLC) countries. GCMS national centers serve as the focal point to coordinate the participation of academic institutes and facilitate communication between government and academia in their respective countries. The GCMS also promotes participation and partnership with other regional and international institutes and organizations on MLC issues. The DVIFA serves as the GCMS Thailand Center.