The Chinese government has pledged an additional M400 million, to bring its total funding commitment for the construction of the Maseru Hospital, and Eye Clinic in Maseru to M800 million.

The construction of the new health facility, which is expected to benefit at least 400 000 people in Maseru and other districts, is set to begin before the end of this year.

China initially pledged M400 million, when the two governments signed a funding agreement in December 2017, but China has since resolved to double the funding commitment, as part of its improved development assistance package to Lesotho.

Lesotho is one of several African countries that are benefiting from Chinese development assistance, in terms of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, whose last summit was held in Johannesburg South Africa in December 2015, with the next one set for September this year in the Chinese capital Beijing.