1. Political relations
The People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Lesotho
established diplomatic relations in Apr.1983. In April 1990, the
Lesotho military government resumed the so-called diplomatic ties
with Taiwan, which consequently led to the severance of
China-Lesotho diplomatic relations. On Jan. 12, 1994, the
government of Basotho Congress Party reestablished diplomatic
relations with China. Since then the bilateral relations between
the two counties have enjoyed smooth development.
The senior officials of China who paid visit to Lesotho are as
follows: Minster of Metallurgical Industry Li Dongye ( 1985), Vice
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Lu Xuejian
(1988), Foreign Minister Qian Qichen (1989),? Assistant
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Liu Xiangdong
(1994), Assistant Foreign Minister Wang Changyi(1995), Assistant
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang
(1997), Assistant Foreign Minister Ji Peiding (1997), Assistant
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaowei (
2000), Deputy Chief of the General Staff of PLA Kui Fulin (2002)
and Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang ( 2002).
The senior officials of Lesotho who paid visit to China are as
follows: Prime Minister Jonathan (1983), King Moshoeshoe II (1985),
Queen Mamohato (1987), Foreign Minister Qhobela (1994), Foreign
Minister Maope (1997), King Letsie III (1999), Commandor of
National Defence Mokfakeng(2001) and Prime Minister Mosisili
(2001). Foreign Minister Thabane and Minister of Industry and Trade
Malie were invited to China to participate in the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation / Ministerial Conference Beijing
(2000).
2. Trade relations and economic cooperation
The Chinese government has completed 9 aid-projects in Lesotho
including vegetable planting, methane technical guidance and the
National Convention Center. Of the six projects, the National
Convention Center is the largest one with a total building area of
6000 square meters. The construction started in March, 1996 and the
Center was delivered to Lesotho side in April, 1999. Now, the
aid-project Buthua-Buthe Industrial Park is under construction. In
2001, China remitted the expired debt that Lesotho should repay
before the end of 1999. Trade volume between the two countries in
2002 reached US$24.508 million (complete Chinese export).
3. Exchanges in the fields of culture, education and
health
China and Lesotho signed an agreement on cultural exchange in
1985. The plan of implementing this agreement from 2001 to 2004 was
formulated by two sides in November 2000. China sent its first
medical team to Lesotho in June, 1997, and the second team to
Lesotho in June 1999. The third team of 7 medical personel began
their work in Lesotho in November, 2002. There were 8 students from
Lesotho studying in China in 2002.
4. Important bilateral documents
The Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of
Lesotho.
(Chinese Foreign Ministry October 10, 2006)