On 6 December 2018, Mr. Song Changqing, the Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Chinese Embassy in Lesotho, attended the Sod-turning Ceremony for Mpiti to Sehlabathebe Road Project. The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane together with more than 10 cabinet members,Former Prime Minister Hon. Pakalitha Mosisili, District administrator and Principal Chief of Qachas Nek, representatives of the beneficiary villagers, representatives of the Chinese Community, Chinese and Lesotho journalists were also at the ceremony.
The Rt. Hon. Dr. Thabane indicated in his remarks that the Mpiti-Sehlabathebe road project is a concrete outcome of the FOCAC in Lesotho. He highly commended the significance of the project in promoting the social and economic development of Lesotho, extended on behalf of the government and people of Lesotho cordial appreciations to China and indicated that the great nation of China is the true friend and reliable partner of Lesotho. He said that FOCAC has become a beacon of hope for Africa, predicated upon the spirit of South-south cooperation and mutual benefit. He emphasized that Lesotho remains committed to further intensifying its relations with China and supports unswervingly the One China policy.
In his remarks, Mr. Song Changqing indicated that as an achievement by China and Lesotho implementing the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC, it will significantly promote the social and economic development of Lesotho and bring tangible benefits to Basotho once built. He said that on FOCAC Beijing Summit held on September 3rd and 4th, the President of China, Mr. Xi Jinping announced that China will launch Eight Major Initiatives and to implement them China will extended 60 Billion USD of financing to Africa. This initiatives and measures once again reflect China's sincerity and political will in supporting the development of Africa. The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Thabane attended the Beijing Summit and also paid an official bilateral visit to China. He met with President Xijinping and Premier Li Keqiang and had extensive discussions on further deepening the China-Lesotho Relations. Mr. Song emphasized that the year of 2019 makes the 25th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Lesotho and China, and believed that the two governments will continue to strengthen all-round cooperation and push the bilateral friendly relations to a new level.
Hon. Mosisili, Hon. Mliehe Prince Maliehe, Minister of Public Works and Transport, DA and Principal Chief of Qachas Nek also delivered their speeches respectively, extending their gratitude. They indicated that China is the best friends, brothers and partners of Lesotho and hoped the project will be completed on time for the benefit of the local people.
Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, China News Service, Economic Daily News and LTV, LENA, Public Eye, Lesotho Times reported on the ceremony and interviewed The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Thabane and the Charge d'Affaires ad interim Mr. Song Changqing.