ENVIRONMENT MINISTER ATTENDS GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF) ASSEMBLY IN BEIJING

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Miss Lebohang Nts'inyi is in Beijing China, to attend the second Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly which starts on Wednesday 16 and ends on Friday 18 October,2002 .

In a press statement from the Ministry of Tourism, the objective of the Assembly is to allow the 172 member states of GEF to exchange views on the policies and operations of the GEF, as well as giving unique opportunities for all GEF participants to voice their concerns. It further indicated that in the meantime, the Minister will be holding a series of meetings with her Chinese counterparts to discuss issues of mutual
interest between Lesotho and China, particularly the strengthening of cooperation in the areas of tourism, culture and environment between the two countries.

It noted that the Minister  on Tuesday held discussions with the Chinese Minister responsible for Environment, during which the two ministers agreed to intensify cooperation in the areas of environment data collection and monitoring, pollution control and water management in urban areas through exchange of information and transfer of necessary equipment. The Minister has also held discussions with the Chinese Minister responsible for Culture during which they explored possibilities for
intensifying and extending to new areas that already exist in cooperation of
the two countries in the area of culture.

The statement concluded by mentioning that the Minister is expected to hold a meeting with the Chinese Minister for Tourism to continue discussions on issues of bilateral interest, before the commencement of the assembly on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Cultural cooperation between Lesotho and China started in 2001 and extends to the year 2004.  On the basis of the cultural cooperation, Lesotho has among others, accepted donations of office equipment from China to strengthen services in the department of culture, and Lesotho has in April this year, sent a troop to China to perform in the Beijing Cultural Festival, while in 2001, a Chinese cultural troop performed during Morija Arts and Cultural festival.

15 October,2002