A FAREWELL SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE AMBASSADOR OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, MR. ZHANG XIANYI

YOUR MAJESTY THE KING

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER

YOUR EXCELLENCY MR ZHANG XIANYI, THE AMBASSADOR OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

YOUR LORDSHIP CHIEF JUSTICE

HONOURABLE MINISTERS

HONOURABLE JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT

YOUR EXCELLENCIES HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSION

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

WHEN AMBASSADORS GET ACCREDITED TO THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO AND START SERVING IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, THEY ENTER A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE.  THAT CHALLENGE IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT THERE IS A THRIVING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN (THEIR GOVERNMENT) AND THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO, IT IS ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR TIME IN LESOTHO – A DIFFERENCE IN ENHANCING GREATER AND MORE MEANINGFUL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, A DIFFERENCE IN IDENTIFYING, WITH US, GAPS THAT MIGHT EXIST IN OUR QUEST TO DEVELOP OUR LAND, AND OUR PEOPLE AND HELP US TO PLUG WHATEVER GAPS MAY EXIST IN OUR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES INSTEAD OF BEING SILENT OR EVEN VOCAL BY-STANDERS.  IN ESSENCE, HELP US TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY WHERE THIS MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  AND THIS REMINDS ME OF A SONG  WE USED TO SING IN THE 1960s:

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE THE COUNTRY DIFFERENT

THE RIGHT GUY TO START WITH IS YOURSELF.

COME ON OH BROTHERS

THERE’S WORK TO DO

DON’T STAND BY.

BY-STANDERS ARE BETRAYERS!

YOUR EXCELLENCY

THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS YOU MADE DURING YOUR TENURE OF OFFICE IN PROMOTING AND STRENGTHENING THE GOOD FRIENDSHIP AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION BETWEEN LESOTHO AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA SHALL REMAIN A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US IN LESOTHO.  YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR THE INVALUABLE SERVICES AND SELFLESS CONTRIBUTION YOU RENDERED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS WHICH HAVE NOT ONLY BENEFITED OUR COUNTRY BUT HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS ENHANCING A BETTER LIFE FOR BASOTHO.

IN YOUR TIME IN LESOTHO, THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE KINGDOM HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THEIR LIVES.  FROM THE CANCELLATION OF LESOTHO’S DEBT TO CHINA (ACHIEVED DURING THE VISIT OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY; HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT; STRENGTHENING COOPERATION IN THE AREA OF CULTURE (INCLUDING THE VISIBLE BUILDING OF OUR NEW NATIONAL LIBRARY); MEDICAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDING SUPPLY OF DOCTORS, EQUIPMENT AND DRUGS; THE MUCH VALUED CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS ENHANCING INDUSTRIALIZATION (THE BUTHA-BUTHE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE); IMPROVEMENT OF RADIO AND TELEVISION COVERAGE IN LESOTHO TO NAME BUT A FEW – ALL THESE AND OTHERS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE.  CLEARLY, YOU HAVE BEEN A GOOD AMBASSADOR OF YOUR COUNTRY AS WELL AS BEING A DEPENDABLE CATALYST IN LESOTHO’S QUEST FOR DEVELOPMENT.

I HAVE COME TO KNOW YOU AS MANY THINGS IN YOUR TIME WITH US.  YOU HAVE BEEN:

·        A BROTHER TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH YOU (AND THIS INCLUDES ORDINARY BASOTHO AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL);

·        AN EPITOME OF HUMILITY IN SERVICE FROM A HIGH OFFICE.  ARROGANCE OF OFFICE HAS NEVER BEEN YOUR PROBLEM – AND CLEARLY IT WILL NEVER BE;

·        A MOVER OF THINGS IN DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF YOUR ENERGY, COMMITMENT AND PASSION TO SUCCEED;

·        A DEPENDABLE LINK OR BRIDGE BETWEEN LESOTHO AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.  THE SHORT THREE YEARS YOU HAVE SPENT WITH US HAVE SEEN A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES.

AS WE BID YOU ‘BON VOYAGE’ TODAY, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE SPINNING WHEELS OF DIPLOMATIC LIFE WILL TURN AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO MEET AGAIN.  ALSO, DO TAKE NOTE THAT THE PEOPLE OF LESOTHO WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA THROUGH REMEMBERING THE AMBASSADOR YOU HAVE BEEN.  DO TRANSMIT OUR DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA – “REA LEBOHA, LE KAMOSO!’  

FINALLY MAY I NOW INVITE YOU MR. AMBASSADOR AND ALL DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO RAISE YOUR GLASSES AND JOIN ME IN PROPOSING A TOAST TO THE GOOD HEALTH AND PERSONAL WELL-BEING OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT HU JIN TAO OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS, PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC.

TO THE PRESIDENT !!!

26 June 2003