Your Majesty King Letsie III,
Your Right Honorable Prime Minister Matekane,
Honorable Ministers, especially Minister of Education and Training, Honorable Minister, Professor Ntoi Rapapa,
Leaders of the National University of Lesotho, Jilin Agricultural University and Tonghua Normal University,
Teachers and students,
Ladies and gentlemen: 

It is a great pleasure to be invited to attend today's ceremony. I would like to extend my congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the National University of Lesotho and on the official opening of the first Confucius Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology in Lesotho jointly established by the National University of Lesotho, Jilin Agricultural University and Tonghua Normal University. I would like to express my gratitude to the education and foreign affairs departments of Lesotho and China and the three universities for their efforts in the opening of the Confucius Institute and in promoting cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. I am very glad to join all of you in adding a new and glorious touch to the friendship between Lesotho and China.

President Xi Jinping once said that higher education is an important indicator of a country's development and potential. Over the past 80 years, the NUL has cultivated a large number of outstanding leaders, scholars and professionals for Lesotho and southern Africa, and has become the leading higher education institution in both Lesotho and the region. I sincerely wish that the NUL, taking its 80th anniversary as a new starting point, would carry forward its glorious history and write a new chapter of brilliance!

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Confucius Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology at NUL was established in September 2024, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the founding of Confucius Institute. Today, it is officially opened on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the NUL. Lesotho and China have jointly created a new platform for educational and cultural exchanges, which is a vivid practice of our joint commitment to the Global Civilization Initiative and the promotion of cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Over the past 25 years, FOCAC has become a symbol of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, a banner of South-South cooperation, and a model for guiding international cooperation with Africa. China-Lesotho relationship is now at its best in history. China stands ready to work with Lesotho to actively promote the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit and continuously expand the depth and breadth of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, to further boost the well-established credentials of FOCAC.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Confucius Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology is one of the important outcomes of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, with dual attributes of cultural exchange and agricultural cooperation. Agriculture is the top priority for Lesotho and a key area of cooperation between China and Lesotho. China attaches great importance to helping Lesotho develop modern agriculture and enhance its capacity for sustainable development. Last month, China just delivered a batch of Emergency Food Aid to Lesotho. The agricultural machinery and equipment aid and the construction of the Maseru Agriculture Storage and Logistic Infrastructure Project are also making steady progress. I believe that the Confucius Institute will also become an important platform for agricultural technology exchanges and cooperation between Lesotho and China, contributing to improving the livelihoods of the Basotho people.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Recently, President Xi Jinping met with representatives of international business community in Beijing and delivered an important speech, emphasizing China has been and will remain an ideal, secure, and promising destination for foreign investors. China’s door will only open wider. He called all parties to work together for maintaining the global economic order. Multilateralism is the only choice for addressing global challenges, and economic globalization is an unstoppable trend of history. Trade and tariff wars have no winners. Protectionism leads nowhere. China upholds true multilateralism, promotes universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and is committed to building an open world economy. China will not erect trade barriers, nor engage in protectionism or unilateralism. China has been committed to supporting Africa's prosperity and development. On December 1 last year, the zero tariff treatment for 100% of tariff items for the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, announced by China at the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC, officially came into effect, benefiting the vast majority of African countries including Lesotho. China is willing to work with all parties including Lesotho to jointly promote economic globalization in the right direction and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Khotso, pula, nala.

Thank you all!