Honourable Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Mr Lebona Lephema,

General Commissioner of the Mountain Police,

Distinguished guests and Media houses present,colleagues

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It's such a great honor to have all of you here today for the signing ceremony of the handing-over certificate of the Fingerprint Examination Laboratory Project at the Chinese Embassy in Lesotho. It’s my great pleasure to sign the handing-over certificate with Ntate Minister Lebona. Please allow me to express my sincere gratitude to all the departments and people from the Lesotho side who were involved in building the laboratory for their hard work.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 2024, the Maseru District Hospital and Eye Clinic, the the Mpiti to Sehlaba-Thebe road, and other practical cooperation projects between China and Lesotho were handed over successfully. Just like these projects, the laboratory project is another outcome of our practical cooperation. I’d like to share some of my thoughts and feelings with you.

First, the laboratory project shows once again China’s principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith when cooperating with Africa. Hospitals, roads, and other projects are surely welcomed and supported by everyone. But for the laboratory project, there might be different opinions. For example, criminals might not welcome or support it. Fingerprint technology is a widely used technical method in criminal cases and judicial trials in all countries and plays an important role in achieving justice. Just like other projects, the laboratory project is for the benefit of the people of Lesotho through consultation and joint construction. I am confident that law-abiding citizens of Lesotho will benefit from such a project.

Second, I’d like to share with you a secret to the happiness of the Chinese people, that is, balancing the relationship between high-speed and high-quality economic development and social stability. Over the past few decades, China has created the two miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability. This is an important part of people’s happy life. Development is undoubtedly the foundation of a happy life. However, without social stability, there won’t be sustained development. Social stability is a prerequisite for national development. I am confident that the laboratory project will help build a more stable and harmonious society in Lesotho and provide a solid basis for the development of Lesotho and the happy life of its people.

Third, the laboratory project is a testament to the China-Lesotho strategic partnership . In September this year, the leaders of China and Lesotho jointly decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation,marking an important milestone in the development of China-Lesotho relations. Under the guidance of the strategic partnership, China-Lesotho cooperation is growing deeper, broader, and more comprehensive. The laboratory project is an outcome of bilateral cooperation in the law enforcement field, and is an example of how the strategic partnership between the two countries has been brought from paper to reality. I am confident that in the future,the strategic partnership between the two countries will continue to expand and deepen in various fields.

Fourth, the Beijing Summit of FOCAC was successfully held in September this year. President Xi Jinping announced the Ten Partnership Actions for China-Africa cooperation. The Partnership Action for Common Security is an important one of them. As the first practical cooperation project handed over after the Beijing Summit, the Fingerprint Examination Laboratory Project is a vivid example of the Common Security Partnership between the two countries. I am confident that with the joint efforts of both sides, the Ten Partnership Actions will achieve even greater success in Lesotho.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2024 is coming to an end, and we’re about to enter 2025. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Lesotho, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 200th anniversary of the founding of Basotho nation. We’re lucky to have witnessed and taken part in these historical processes and made contribution to the continuous improvement of the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Lesotho. This is commendable. As we welcome 2025, please allow me to give the most traditional and beautiful Chinese blessing to all of you and to the people of China and Lesotho. Wish you safe and sound,good health and happiness in 2025! And I hope the friendship and cooperation between China and Lesotho bear more fruits and shine even brighter in the new year.

Khotso,Pula,Nala!