Lesotho continues to reap the benefits of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with the Chinese Embassy launching the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges in Maseru.
The programme was launched in the presence of Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso, following a joint decision by China and African countries at FOCAC 2024 to designate 2026 as the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. The continental launch was held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last month.
In his remarks, Prince Seeiso underscored the importance of people-to-people exchanges, saying they span different levels of interaction, from officials to ordinary citizens, and have a lasting and meaningful impact.
Prince Seeiso said nurturing such partnerships was essential, adding that sharing the journey together would create a relationship worth sustaining over many years. He encouraged young people to continuously build and renew these connections, noting that there is great strength in people-to-people exchanges.
Speaking at the same event, Chinese Consular Lu Hui said the launch in Maseru was more than a ceremonial occasion, describing it as a concrete step in translating the shared consensus reached in Addis Ababa into action in Lesotho.
He said Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his congratulatory letter on the People-to-People Exchange Year, had noted that exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations are an inexhaustible driving force for human progress, world peace and development. President Xi also highlighted that China and Africa, as two great civilisations, have enriched each other over thousands of years, forming the historical and intellectual foundation of China–Africa friendship.
Mr Lu said President Xi had expressed hope that both sides would use the Exchange Year to carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen mutual learning among civilisations, expand youth exchanges, deepen governance experience sharing and jointly advance modernisation.
