Chinese modernisation lights path for Lesotho partnership
Scholarships and prizes celebrate shared vision
MOSA MAOENG
MASERU – The Chinese Embassy in Maseru became a beacon of bilateral cooperation and shared aspiration last week, hosting a dual celebration of the awards ceremony for the ‘Chinese modernisation in my eyes’ contest and a reception honouring Basotho students and trainees going to China to pursue their studies.
This event underscored the profound influence of Chinese modernization – a unique path to development pioneered and steadfastly guided by the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Rooted in socialist principles and tailored to China’s specific conditions, this modernization model prioritizes people-centered development, high-quality growth and peaceful coexistence.
Its global resonance lies in offering an alternative paradigm for developing nations seeking prosperity while preserving sovereignty.
The ‘Chinese modernisation in my eyes’ contest vividly demonstrated how this concept inspires beyond China’s borders. Basotho participants articulated their understanding of this CPC-led vision.
The top prize winner secured a coveted fully sponsored training opportunity in China for two weeks to one month, a direct investment in skills transfer and cross-cultural understanding.
Second-place winners received smartphones, while third-place achievers were awarded drones – tools emblematic of technological advancement central to the modernization drive. Further categories recognized talent with tablets, smart projectors and electronic watches, highlighting the integration of innovation into daily life.
Simultaneously, the future of Lesotho-China ties received a significant boost as 15 Basotho students were awarded prestigious scholarships for five-year study programmes in China. This initiative represents a core pillar of bilateral cooperation, directly empowering Basotho youth with knowledge and skills aligned with modern development needs.
Lesotho, as a valued bilateral partner, reaps tangible benefits from engaging with the Chinese modernisation experience and CPC-led development strategies. This partnership manifests in
human capital development, infrastructure and investment, knowledge and technology transfer as well as shared development goals.
The ceremony, presided over by Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiaokun, emphasized that China-Lesotho relations, grounded in equality and mutual respect, are flourishing.
The investments in people – through both the contest prizes and the scholarships – he said, exemplify the practical application of Chinese modernisation’s people-centric philosophy and its commitment to fostering shared global prosperity under the CPC’s international vision.
“The success of Chinese modernisation, charted by the CPC, offers inspiration and practical pathways,” Ambassador Yang stated.
“We are committed to deepening this partnership with Lesotho, sharing experiences, and supporting Basotho talent to contribute to their nation’s bright future.”
Ambassador Yang has articulated the defining characteristics of Chinese modernisation, emphasizing its unprecedented scale and ambitious goals.
Addressing an audience of students, writers and invited dignitaries, the Ambassador described China’s path as “the modernization of a huge population,” noting that involving over 1.4 billion people makes it “the largest scale and also the most difficult in human history.”
He stressed that this modernization is fundamentally “the modernization of common prosperity for all,” aimed at “delivering a better life for the whole nation with no one left behind.”
Ambassador Yang defined Chinese modernisation as having three core aspects. “First, it is the modernization of a huge population,” involving over 1.4 billion people, making it “the largest scale and also the most difficult in human history.
Second, it is the modernization of common prosperity for all, aiming at delivering a better life for the whole nation with no one left behind. Third, it is the modernization of both material and cultural-ethical advancement, pursuing the free and well-rounded development of people.”
He emphasized: “Chinese modernization could only be achieved with strong theoretical guidance. China has explored and found by itself a path to modernization through struggles and hard work over the past 100 years and more.”
The theory of Chinese mordenisation was introduced in 2022 by President Xi Jingping, academically summarizing China’s experiences leading to modernisation.
He said the theory provides answers to major questions concerning Chinese modernisation and serves as the fundamental principle and guide to action for the way forward.
Yang further added that Chinese modernisation could only be achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
He said the CPC’s leadership ensures that Chinese modernisation steadily advances along the right track, staying true to the party’s original aspiration and mission of seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation.
He added that Chinese modernisation could only be achieved through the unity and diligence of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. He mentioned that as the Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho, recalling the achievements of Chinese modernization brought him a sense of pride – to see that Chinese modernisation is also benefitting the people of Lesotho.
Ambassador Yang declared that bilateral relations between China and Lesotho have been elevated to a strategic partnership following the Beijing Summit. He emphasized that both nations are working tirelessly to implement ten targeted action plans aligned with Lesotho’s urgent development needs.
“These efforts will accelerate our countries’ modernization through concrete projects,” stated Ambassador Yang. Key initiatives include M25 million in emergency food assistance, the National University of Lesotho Confucius Institute of Agriculture and Technology, and the Maseru Fire Station and fire engine donation.
“The momentum for China-Lesotho modernization grows stronger, our path steadier, and our shared future increasingly clear,” he added.
Ambassador Yang also congratulated Basotho students selected to study in China, calling it a “transformative opportunity” to engage deeply with China’s development path and modernization principles.
He urged them to “seize this moment, champion China-Lesotho friendship, and apply their insights to serve Lesotho’s progress upon their return.”
Lesotho News Agency reporter, Palesa Maharasoa, first-prize winner of the ‘Chinese modernisation in my eyes’ contest, has lauded the China-Africa relationship as “one of the world’s most constructive and dynamic partnerships,” crediting its success to mutual respect and shared aspirations.
In her award-winning submission, Maharasoa emphasized that the partnership’s strength transcends economic scale, rooted instead in a “spirit of mutual respect, shared goals, and profound people-to-people friendship.”
She noted China’s role as Africa’s largest trading partner and a steadfast development ally, with investments visibly transforming skylines, bridging remote regions via modern infrastructure, expanding clean energy access, and accelerating technological adoption continent-wide.
Highlighting the Belt and Road Initiative, Maharasoa stated: “Through the BRI, African nations have seen once-dreamed projects materialize – modern roads, railways, bridges, and ports. These are not mere physical structures; they are bridges of cooperation, carrying hope, opportunity, and progress.”
Maharasoa underscored decades of bilateral cooperation between China and Lesotho. Key projects include construction of the Maseru District Hospital and critical road networks, improving healthcare and education access. The China-aided State Library and Archives in Maseru – which she described as a “symbol of enduring partnership” uniting knowledge, history and national aspirations.
She the contribution of the Chinese medical teams which have been delivering essential healthcare, particularly in underserved rural communities, also adding job creation through Chinese enterprises, stimulating local economic growth.
Concluding her remarks, Maharasoa extended thanks on behalf of fellow contestants for the opportunity to articulate their perspectives, saying that “for us, expressing truth through ink and paper remains our finest craft.”
This event marked not just a celebration of achievement, but a reaffirmation of the dynamic partnership between Lesotho and China, illuminated by the guiding principles of Chinese modernisation and the enduring cooperation fostered by the CPC.
