Maseru — Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Mr. Limpho Tau on  Wednesday joined the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Lesotho, Mr. Yang Xiaokun, at a formal signing ceremony marking a substantial military donation from China to Lesotho.

The People's Liberation Army (LPA) of the People's Republic of China has donated RMB 30 million (approximately M90 million) to the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Lesotho to bolster the nation's security sector and operational readiness.

In his keynote remarks, Minister Tau expressed the Government of Lesotho's profound appreciation to the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Central Military Commission, the People's Liberation Army and Ambassador Yang for their unwavering support and the enduring friendship between the two nations.

He emphasized that the contribution extends far beyond mere financial assistance. He described it as a powerful testament to the deep-rooted friendship, mutual trust and strategic partnership shared between Lesotho and China.
The newly acquired funding is slated to significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF).

Furthermore, it will enhance Lesotho's ability to actively contribute to regional and international peacekeeping efforts, particularly through bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU).
He highlighted the longstanding, multi-sectoral cooperation between the two countries, which spans infrastructure, education, health, agriculture and defence.

"This bilateral relationship reached a historic milestone in January 2026, when it was formally elevated to a Strategic Partnership through a joint Press Communique signed by the Foreign Ministers of both countries.

Minister Tau indicated that Lesotho aims to further deepen its defence and security ties with China. He said future collaborations are expected to focus on specialized training, exchanges of military expertise, peacekeeping cooperation and advancements in defence equipment and technology.

“This donation is more than financial assistance, it is a symbol of friendship, trust and shared vision between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the People's Republic of China,” the Minister concluded.

On the other hand, Chinese Ambassador Yang said security bears on the well-being of the people of all countries, the cause of world peace and development and the future of humanity.

"Today our world, our ties and history are changing in ways like never before. The international community is confronted with multiple risks and challenges rarely seen before ," he said.

He said the six commitments of Global Security Initiative (GSI) include committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperation and sustainable security, committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, committed to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously. He emphasised that over the years, military exchanges and cooperation have become an important part of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.

He indicated that the signing marks another important step forward in this cooperation.
Meanwhile, Chinese military institutions regularly host and train LDF officers, offering professional development and technical education.