Chinese Foreign Minister Signs M9 million Cooperation Agreement
  Lesotho and China signed a M9 million bilateral cooperation agreement in Maseru on January 15. Foreign Ministers Mr. Monyane Moleleki and Mr. Li Zhaoxing signed on behalf of their governments.

The Chinese Foreign Minister, who was on a two day visit to Lesotho, had an audience with King Letsie III on Saturday, January 15 and also met with the Prime Minister Mr Pakalitha Mosisili and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing Mr. Mpho Malie

 The two Foreign Minister had a site inspection of the still under construction national library, being with with Chinese assistance. Mr. Li also donated ten sets of computers with printers and five laptops to his Lesotho counterpart.

This is the first visit by a Chinese Minister since visits to that country by King Letsie III in 1999 and the Prime Minister in 2001.
 

About 5000 Chinese, most of them naturalised citizens, live in the country, involved in the  manufacturing  and textile factories as well as in the wholesale and retail business.

17 January 2005

  source: LENA