Lesotho got a boost of M100 000.00 from the Chinese Embassy in its preparations for the World Expo 2010 to be staged in Shanghai, next year.

The official handing over ceremony was conducted at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing boardroom on Monday.

The Assistant Minister, Mr. Khotso Matla who received the cheque on behalf of the government said the money will be used for preparation purposes of the World Expo 2010.

He said Lesotho is going to send off a huge delegation of Basotho drawn from different sectors of life as artists, farmers, small business entrepreneurs and others who will showcase Lesotho's diversified culture and heritage.

Mr. Matla said after receiving an invitation from China to attend the world Expo, Lesotho established a committee which also in turn formed task groups which have been assigned certain tasks to perform.

He said at the World Expo 2010, Lesotho will get an opportunity to showcase handicrafts, wool and mohair, art and tapestries while also promoting tourism.

The assistant Minister therefore, thanked the Chinese Embassy for the generous gesture.

On the other hand the Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho Prof. Gao Deyi said the donation was intended to enable Lesotho to make a strong exhibition during the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai next year.

He said there will be many countries across the globe which will showcase their diversified culture and heritage and that Lesotho will also have a chance to share with other nations.

Prof. Deyi said Lesotho and China have long cooperation on many sectors of development and that they share common problems of development.

He also pointed out that China has invested a lot in African countries, saying that in Lesotho there are many Chinese who have invested in the country on textile factories and that both countries could still explore other business opportunities.

On the other hand, the Lesotho's head of Secretariat Committee for Word Expo 2010, Mrs. 'Matokoloho Khuto said the theme for World Expo 2010 is 'Better City, Better Life'.

She said this simply encourages people who are moving from rural areas to cities to still maintain healthy life styles of producing fresh foods and living in tidy places.

Mrs. Khuto said preparations for the World Expo 2010 are at an advanced stage where task groups are doing their best to come up with best teams which will represent Lesotho well.

She said though the World Expo 2010 Begins in May and ends in October, Lesotho will intensify its exhibition during the country's Independence celebrations on October 04.

This will not be the first time Lesotho participates at the World Expo, after performing well in the Germany World Expo in 2006.

Source: LENA 01/12/2009