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Chinese Embassy in Lesotho Held Seminar on China-Africa Cooperation Forum

2011-01-13 17:00
  

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Lesotho held a seminar on December 21, 2010, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of China-Africa Cooperation Forum. More than 20 people were invited to attend, including editors, journalists and owners of local mainstream media, such as Lesotho Times, Lesotho Press, national television and news agency. Saihamene, Secretary of State, also attended as government spokesman. The Seminar was chaired by Lai Bo, political counsellor of the Chinese embassy. Hao Yongjiang, commerical counselor, and other senior diplomats in the embassy were also present.

 
Ambassador Gao delivering speech  Lai Bo chairing the seminar 

The seminar began with Ambassador Gao Deyi delivering a speech in which he welcomed the attendance of friends from the media on behalf of the embassy and thanked their concern for and support to the development of China-Lesotho relationship over a long time. He briefed on the ten-year development of China-Africa Cooperation Forum since its establishment. He pointed out that China and Africa have both given great importance and attention to making the China-Africa Forum become an important platform for collective dialogue and effective mechanism for pragmatic cooperation. It has made important achievements in enhancing China-Africa relations, improving political mutual trust, promoting pragmatic cooperation for the benefit of both peoples. The world today is undergoing profound changes and China-Africa cooperation is facing new opportunities and challenges. The China-Lesotho cooperation has also ushered in new opportunities for development. The two sides should seize the opportunities to forge ahead and open up new prospects for bilateral friendly cooperation. He hoped that the mainstream media would continue to play an active role in covering the events of the mutually beneficialcooperation, enhancement of bilateral exchanges, mutual understanding and communication under the framework of the Forum between the two countries and presenting a peace-loving, developing and cooperative China and the friendly and cooperative relationship it enjoys with African countries including Lesotho to the Lesotho people in an objective, comprehensive and truthful manner.

 

Secretary of State Saihamene also addressed the occasion by pointing out that China-Africa cooperation was not something new, as it began with the national liberation movement in Africa in the early 1960s. Carefully nurtured by the older generation of Chinese leaders like Mao Zedong and African leaders, the traditional friendship between China and Africa was created and its development has set up an example for South-South cooperation. Established ten years ago, China-Africa Cooperation Forum has brought about tangible benefits to African countries. Though a small country, Lesotho has received a lot of selfless assistance from China, which has greatly promoted its economic and social development. The Conference Center, National Library and Parliament House built with Chinese aid have become landmarks of China-Lethoso friendly relations. As China's assistance is selfless, the Western media's accusation of China pursuing "new colonialism" is just untenable. The African people who have suffered a lot from colonial oppression are the best qualified to judge what "new colonialism" is and people should not listen to the one-sided stories of some Western media. Saihamene said the Lesotho government would encourage the mainstream media to give more coverage on China to let more local people learn the development of Africa-China and Lesotho-China friendly cooperation.

 

Subsequently, Ambassador Gao and other Chinese diplomats exchanged views with the journalists on China's Africa policy, trade and economic cooperation projects, and assistance to Lesotho in a lively and warm atmosphere. The "2010 Report of China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation", "A Collection ofChina-Africa Cooperation Forum Papers" and a Chinese culture brochure were distributed to guests on the conclusion of the discussion. The journalists thanked the embassy for hosting the seminar, saying it helped enhance their understanding of China and Africa-China relations as well as government policy of China and vowed to further strengthen ties and exchanges with the Embassy in the future.