China reaffirms commitment to peace and mutual cooperation with world countries

…Hails relations with Lesotho as Communist Party of China (CPC) marks 105 years of resilience

Moroke Sekoboto

CHINA has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit at a time of growing global instability and uncertainty.

Speaking during celebrations marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Chinese Embassy in Maseru this week, Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho, Yang Xiaokun, said the CPC firmly believed every country bore the potential to grow its economy irrespective of the circumstances.

He said there was no one-size-fits-all model for modernisation and that every country had the right to pursue a development path suited to its own national conditions.

“China’s development path has demonstrated that modernisation does not mean westernisation and that countries of the Global South can independently achieve modernisation while preserving their own history, culture and institutions,” Mr Xiaokun said.

The ambassador said CPC General Secretary and Chinese President, Xi Jinping had, in a recent address, reflected on the party’s 105-year journey and highlighted the qualities that had enabled it to achieve historic successes.

He said the CPC was founded when China was facing poverty, internal strife and foreign aggression and had since grown from a small political movement of just over 50 members into the world’s largest governing party, with more than 101 million members and over 5.43 million grassroots organisations.

“Under the leadership of the Party, China has achieved the historic transformation from standing up, to growing prosperous and to becoming strong,” Mr Xiaokun said.

He said China had become the world’s second-largest economy, completed industrialisation within a few decades and achieved rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.

Mr Xiaokun further highlighted China’s achievements in poverty reduction, saying the country had eradicated absolute poverty by lifting nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty and achieving the poverty reduction targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a decade ahead of schedule.

He also cited advances in environmental protection, education, healthcare, technology and artificial intelligence.

“China led the way in the research, development and application of artificial intelligence, while new breakthroughs were made in the independent development of chips. The Tianwen-2 probe embarked on an interplanetary exploration mission, while new-energy vehicle production exceeded 16 million units,” he said.

The ambassador said China had increasingly become an influential player in global affairs and had contributed ideas and initiatives on global security, governance and development.

He added that the CPC’s success over the past 105 years was rooted in six key qualities, including its commitment to truth, close ties with the people, sense of historical mission, ability to adapt to change, fighting spirit and dedication to self-renewal.

“The 105-year journey of the CPC is not only a Chinese story but also a story for the world,” he said.

Mr Xiaokun emphasised that China sought happiness for its people and progress for humanity, adding that the country had consistently positioned itself as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order.

He highlighted China’s initiatives, including the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, which seek to make global governance more equitable.

The ambassador also noted that China had expanded its zero-tariff policy for African exports.

“On May 1 this year, China announced that its zero-tariff treatment would cover all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, creating new opportunities for Africa to boost exports and industrialisation,” he said.

Turning to bilateral relations, Mr Xiaokun described ties between China and Lesotho as excellent and said the two countries maintained frequent exchanges between their leaders and supported each other on issues of mutual concern.

He added that the CPC had established friendly relations with three major political parties in Lesotho – the Lesotho Congress for Democracy, the Democratic Congress and the Revolution for Prosperity – through political dialogue, governance seminars and training programmes.

“Looking to the future, China is ready to work hand in hand with Lesotho to deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges,” Mr Xiaokun said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Limpho Tau, praised the longstanding relationship between the two countries, saying its benefits were visible across Lesotho.

He cited major Chinese-supported projects, including the Parliament Building of Lesotho, the State House of Lesotho, the Maseru District Hospital, the new Maseru Fire Station and the Mpiti-Sehlabathebe Road.

Mr Tau also commended successive Chinese medical teams that have served in Lesotho since 1997 and highlighted the first phase of the Mafeteng Solar Power Plant, which is expected to generate 30 megawatts of electricity.

“For a nation determined to secure its own energy future, this is not merely a project. It is a foundation,” Mr Tau said.

He said the project aligned with Lesotho’s Mission 300 initiative aimed at ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for all households.

Mr Tau noted that bilateral relations had gained new momentum following the January visit to Lesotho by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which resulted in the signing of the China-Lesotho Joint Communiqué and the establishment of a new Bilateral Cooperation Mechanism.

He added that this year marked both the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges and the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations.

“Here in Lesotho, the Confucius Institute at the National University of Lesotho draws our young people and our two cultures closer. Basotho students train in China, while Chinese enterprises create jobs and transfer skills here at home.”

Mr Tau also welcomed China’s zero-tariff treatment for African exports, saying it would create new opportunities for Basotho products, including wool, mohair and agricultural goods.

“For a landlocked least-developed country determined to move from aid towards trade, investment and value addition, this is a real opportunity – and we intend to seize it,” he said.

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