M1.3m China gift strengthens bilateral development support
TEBOHO LEBESA
MASERU – Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho, Yang Xiaokun, on Wednesday formally handed over a donation of IT equipment and electric wheelchairs worth M1.3 million to Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane.
The donation, initially pledged in December 2024 by Mu Hong, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), underscores China’s enduring commitment to supporting Lesotho’s socio-economic development.
Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane, who accepted the donation on behalf of the prime minister, emphasized its transformative potential. The minister highlighted that “the IT equipment will empower our youth and professionals in this digital era, while the electric wheelchairs will significantly enhance mobility and dignity for persons with disabilities.”
He further emphasized that the support Lesotho continues to receive from China touches every sector from infrastructure, education, health, to capacity building and reflects a relationship rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for development.
The gesture aligns with Lesotho’s national priorities, including digital transformation and inclusive social development.
The donation is emblematic of the broader China-Lesotho strategic partnership, elevated during Prime Minister Matekane’s historic visit to China for the 2025 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit. This partnership, now in its 30th year since the resumption of diplomatic ties, spans critical sectors that cover healthcare Cooperation, infrastructure and economic development, education and human capital as well agricultural and technological support.
China has dispatched 19 medical teams – totalling 198 professionals – to Lesotho since 1997, providing uninterrupted services despite global challenges. The recent handover of the 19th medical team marked the launch of Lesotho’s first public hospital ICU the at Maseru District Hospital, a project supported by Chinese expertise.
Donations of solar panels and modern medical equipment such as colour ultrasound machines reflect China’s focus on sustainable and high-tech solutions.
Key projects like the Mpiti to Sehlaba-Thebe Road, Polihali Transfer Tunnel and the Maseru District Hospital showcase China’s role in upgrading the country’s infrastructure. Chinese firms have introduced advanced technologies and employment opportunities, overcoming harsh conditions to deliver high-quality projects praised for their efficiency.
Scholarships and vocational training programmes have enabled Basotho youth to study in China, with alumni like Prince Seeiso Seeiso – a graduate of the Beijing Language and Culture University – becoming ambassadors of bilateral ties.
On agricultural and technological support, the Confucius Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology promotes knowledge transfer in farming techniques, aligning with Lesotho’s food security goals.
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) remains pivotal in structuring bilateral projects, and Minister Mpotjoane’s upcoming visit to China for the FOCAC Coordinators’ Meeting will review progress on initiatives like the Maseru Eye Clinic and Fingerprint Laboratory, completed with Chinese funding. Also on the table and expected to be discussed are renewable energy projects, including solar farms, to address Lesotho’s energy deficits.
Ambassador Yang has reiterated China’s adherence to “people-centered” development principles, ensuring projects meet Lesotho’s urgent needs through “friendly consultation” rather than imposition.
The M1.3 million donation is one of many grant aid projects under China’s broader assistance model, which also includes preferential loans and private-sector investments.
China-Lesotho relations exemplify the “win-win” ethos of the Global South, a partnership consistent, predictable, and immune to external disruptions – with upcoming collaborations in clean energy, ICT, and vocational training, the strategic partnership is poised to deliver even greater dividends.
Mpotjoana will embark on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China to attend the Coordinators’ Meeting of the FOCAC, a vital platform that reviews the progress of Chinese-funded development projects in Africa, including Lesotho.
