This was stated by Dr. Mari-Vaughan Johnson, Environmental and Energy
Advisor in the United States Department of State, during her visit to
the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 16 December 2010. Dr.
Johnson stated that United States Secretary of State Ms. Hillary
Clinton and the foreign ministers of the Lower Mekong Countries , have
agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of environment, health,
education, and infrastructure development. While the United States has
a long history of engagement with the countries of Southeast Asia on a
bilateral basis, countries of the Lower Mekong region share a variety
of common concerns, including transboundary water management,
infectious diseases and vulnerability to climate change. The LMI seeks
to support a common regional understanding of these issues and to
facilitate an effective, coordinated response.
Dr. Johnson was accompanied by Mr. Jacob Schultz, Environment,
Science, Technology and Health Officer at the US Embassy in
Bangkok.
Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Vice President for Academic Affairs welcomed Dr.
Johnson and Mr. Schultz, and mentioned that AIT is at the forefront of
technology, development and education. “AIT can be an ideal platform
and partner in the Lower Mekong Initiative,” Prof. Dutta stressed.
Dr.Weerakorn Ongsakul, Dean, School of Environment, Resources and
Development (SERD) detailed the Greater Mekong Sub-region Academic and
Research Network (GMSARN) initiative, which comprises of 11 of the
region's top-ranking academic and research institutions. Prof. Gabor L.
Hornyak of Center of Excellence (CoE) in Nanotechnology at AIT, and
interim director, Center for Learning Innovation and Quality; Prof.
Ganesh Shivakoti from Natural Resources Management (NRM); Dr. Oleg
Shipin from Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM); Mr. Karma
Rana, Institute Secretary,Dr. Pritam Krishna Shrestha, Head, External
Relations and Communications Office (ERCO); Ms. Tiamkare Thitithamtada,
Program Officer, ERCO and Ms. Jacqueline S. Knee, Fulbright scholar and
research fellow at EEM, also attended the meeting.
The US delegation also watched the rehearsal of the 114th Graduation
Ceremony. They visited Center of Excellence (CoE) in Nanotechnology at
AIT, where they were briefed about the activities of the Center. The
visitors toured the AIT-UNEP Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the
Pacific (RRC.AP) where they were shown the low carbon office initiative
of UNEP. The team also met Mr. Oisin Walton, Télécoms Sans Frontière’s
delegate for the Asia and Pacific.
