Lesotho PM attends handover ceremony of China-aided solar power plant project

A handover ceremony of the China-aided Mafeteng photovoltaic solar power plant phase one project was held on June 12, 2023. Prime Minister of Lesotho Sam Matekane, Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho Lei Kezhong, along with approximately 500 attendees, including ministers of natural resources, education, information communication, trade and tourism, and transportation, as well as local representatives from United Nations agencies and Chinese enterprises, attended the event.

Matekane extended his sincere appreciation to the Chinese government for its assistance in building the much-needed power plant. He said that energy is a crucial development area for Lesotho, and the delivery of the project has great significance. He said he looks forward to deepening cooperation with China to steadily achieve energy self-sufficiency and gradually transform his country into an energy exporter, in a bid to realize the dream of the people of Lesotho to provide energy to other countries on the African continent.

Lei said that the project is a successful example of the bilateral cooperation between China and Lesotho on the development and utilization of new energy, as well as a vivid demonstration of equality, mutual benefit and friendly cooperation between the two countries. Noting that this year is a "bumper year" for China-Lesotho practical cooperation, he said China will continue to uphold the initiative of building an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future and expand and deepen cooperation with Lesotho in various fields to bring benefits to the two countries and their people.