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)