Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho Yang Xiaokun Publishes a Signed Article Titled “China-Lesotho: A Strategic Partnership for Practical Outcomes, Tangible Benefits and Shared Future”

On February 6 and 8, Ambassador Yang Xiaokun published a signed article titled "China-Lesotho: A Strategic Partnership for Practical Outcomes, Tangible Benefits and Shared Future" in Lesotho's mainstream media Public Eye and online media Lesotho Tribune, introducing the outcomes of China-Lesotho cooperation. Here's the full text:

The visit of H.E. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, to Lesotho marked an important milestone in the development of China-Lesotho relations. It reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to advancing a strategic partnership focused on practical cooperation, long-term development, and tangible benefits for the Basotho people.

Over the years, guided by mutual respect and equality, China has worked closely with the Government and people of Lesotho to support national development priorities, accelerate modernization, and improve livelihoods. This cooperation is not abstract in nature; it is reflected in projects, policies, and people-to-people exchanges that have produced visible and lasting results.

Infrastructure is a cornerstone of economic and social progress. In Lesotho, China's foreign aid projects have contributed to strengthening public services, improving connectivity, and supporting sustainable growth. In Maseru, facilities such as the Parliament Building, the State House, the National Library, and the Mathabiseng Convention Centre play an important role in governance and public life. These projects serve daily needs while standing as long-term symbolic assets. Specialized facilities, including the Fingerprint Examination Laboratory, have enhanced public safety. Beyond the capital, the Mpiti-Sehlaba-Thebe Road has improved connectivity between rural and urban areas, facilitating trade, tourism, and mobility. Phase I of the Mafeteng Solar Power Plant has a total installed capacity of 30 megawatts, contributing to energy security and the transition to renewables. Chinese enterprises also participate in major national initiatives such as the Polihali Transfer Tunnel and Dam, supporting water resource management and future economic development. Together, these projects, which were constructed or granted by China during the past decades, form part of a broader effort to create an enabling environment for investment, industrial activity, and inclusive growth.

China-Lesotho cooperation continues to deepen in trade, investment, and industrial development. Bilateral trade has grown steadily, while China has implemented zero-tariff treatment on 100 per cent of tariff lines for all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, including Lesotho. This policy reflects China's commitment to open markets and provides concrete opportunities for Lesotho exports. Recognizing wool and mohair as signature products of Lesotho, the two sides have reached consensus on signing a protocol for greasy wool to be imported from Lesotho to China, facilitating market access and encouraging value addition through local processing. By doing so, Lesotho's position in the global value chain will be significantly enhanced. In the mineral trade, global market trends are shaped by technological progress and evolving consumer demand. In the diamond sector, natural diamonds and synthetic diamonds largely serve different market segments. China remains an important consumer market for natural diamonds, while the growth of synthetic diamonds is driven primarily by industrial and technological applications. For diamond-producing countries, including Lesotho, strengthening beneficiation, diversification, and resilience remains essential for long-term development amid global market changes.

China also actively encourages enterprises to invest in downstream industries in Lesotho, supporting industrial diversification and job creation. Chinese enterprises have conducted on-site inspections and due diligence for potential investments in Lesotho's wool processing sector. Chinese enterprises are also investing in poultry farming; in October 2025, the LNDC delegation visited Qingdao and signed contracts with Chinese poultry companies worth approximately US$100 million, supporting local production, food security, and industrial upgrading.

China provides technical support and equipment to enhance Lesotho's capacity for independent and sustainable development. In 2025, China donated 148 pieces of agricultural machinery and handed over the Maseru Agricultural Storage and Logistics Infrastructure to support agricultural modernization and productivity. Since 2006, China has implemented four phases of Juncao (mushroom) technology cooperation, providing grants totaling RMB 21.33 million. Chinese experts have brought advanced cultivation techniques to Lesotho, and the fifth phase of the project is set to launch. As a Chinese proverb goes, "Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him how to fish." Chinese enterprises operating in Lesotho have created employment opportunities and contributed technology, skills, and management experience that support local capacity-building. According to 2024 statistics, three major Chinese-funded enterprises engaged in large-scale national projects have employed and trained over 4,000 local workers; approximately 2,000 Chinese nationals reside in Lesotho, operating businesses and factories that have employed and trained more than 17,000 Basotho workers. Through such initiatives, China helps Lesotho strengthen self-reliant, sustainable development rather than relying solely on external aid.

China is equally committed to health and well-being. The Maseru District Hospital, built with over RMB 430 million, equipped with modern facilities including CT scanners, digital X-ray systems, an ICU, and a pathology lab, provides modern medical services close to home. Since 1997, 201 Chinese medical professionals have been deployed to Lesotho, who treated over 300,000 patients, performed more than 8,000 surgeries, trained over 800 local staff, and conducted outreach services in over 200 villages. To combat AIDs, last year, China launched a joint project with UNAIDS, "Eliminating the Triple Threat in Girls and Young Women in Lesotho," investing over US$2 million and expected to benefit more than 20,000 young women. By combining capacity-building with emergency support, China and Lesotho have tackled public health challenges side by side.

People-to-people exchanges have further enriched our relationship. By the end of 2025, 3,970 Basotho had attended short-term training in China, and another 820 have participated in online training during the pandemic. Hundreds of young Basotho have received full scholarships to study at prestigious universities such as Peking University and the University of International Business and Economics. These programs cover public finance, trade facilitation, clean energy, and other fields, with a focus on youth and women. For example, in 2025, women comprised 63.2% of trainees, and participants under 35 accounted for 18.9%, promoting inclusive development. In Lesotho, the Confucius Classroom at Machabeng College delivers 3,096 lessons annually, while the Confucius Institute at the National University of Lesotho averages 3,000 teaching attendances per week. In 2026, the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges will host around 600 activities across youth, women, culture, education, and civil society, further strengthening mutual understanding and friendship.

More importantly, the visit of H.E. Wang Yi injected fresh momentum into the ongoing mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Lesotho. During the visit, the two sides achieved a series of significant outcomes. First, China announced a new grant of RMB 100 million (approximately 250 million Maloti), marking the second such grant since the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Second, China will provide RMB 12 million (30 million Maloti) in emergency food assistance, continuing its tradition of donating food to Lesotho over the years. In addition, substantial progress has been made on advancing the second phase of the Mafeteng Solar Power Plant Project with a total installed capacity of 50 megawatts. The two countries also agreed to fully leverage the policy benefits of zero-tariff treatment to further open the market to Lesotho, aiming to maximize tangible benefits for both peoples.

The facts and figures demonstrate that the China-Lesotho strategic partnership is not an empty slogan but a genuine friendship built on long-standing mutual trust, shared development, and win-win cooperation. China-Lesotho cooperation is both tangible and reliable. In the face of global challenges, China firmly supports Lesotho in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests. While some people called Lesotho as a country that nobody has ever heard of, H.E. Wang Yi's came to Lesotho, sending a clear message: Lesotho matters, and the Basotho people matter. While some countries impose high tariffs or manipulate aid to influence Lesotho's choices, China adheres to the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, respects the sovereignty of Lesotho, and supports Lesotho in pursuing development paths suited to its own national conditions.

Looking ahead, China will take this visit as a new starting point, translating leaders' consensus into concrete action. We will continue to deepen cooperation across sectors, keep our doors wide open to Lesotho, and through pragmatic efforts, bring more tangible benefits to both peoples, jointly ushering in a new chapter in the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.