On 5 - 6 September 2022, H.E. Ms. Arunrung Phothong Humphreys, Ambassador Attached to the Ministry and Thai SOM Leader for Mekong Cooperation, visited Chiang Rai Province for the “ACMECS Visibility Tour”. The main objectives are to enhance awareness about ACMECS and meet local stakeholders with a view to strengthening Mekong cooperation to benefit the people, as well as to prepare for the upcoming ACMECS Summit and Mekong - Lancang Cooperation Leaders Meeting by the end of this year.

During the visit, Ambassador Arunrung and Dr. Chayaporn Wattanasiri, President of the Mae Fah Luang University, jointly opened the Seminar on “ACMECS: connecting sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region” with more than a hundred participants from various sectors in northern Thailand attending the event. Panelists from public and academic sectors exchanged views on geo-politics and geo-economics of the sub-region and the role of ACMECS in promoting development cooperation in the areas, such as connectivity, trade and investment, non-traditional security threats, education and human resource development.

Ambassador Arunrung also had a meeting with provincial representatives from public and private sectors led by Mr. Buncha Chaovarin, Vice Governor of Chiang Rai, to discuss opportunities and challenges in promoting the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Chiang Rai through sub-regional cooperation, as well as the issues of border trade and investment facilitation. In addition, Ambassador Arunrung visited the Water Resources Regional Office 4 and Hydrological-Meteorological Station, Department of Water Resources, in Chiang Saen District to gain insights from practitioners on the current water situation of the Mekong River.