Celebrations marked by cultural activities including dumpling making, song and dance
Silence Charumbira
MASERU, Lesotho – The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Lesotho, Lei Kezhong, on Wednesday led the Chinese New Year celebrations with an intimate youth get-together featuring multiple cultural elements that are part of the Chinese traditions.
Held at the Chinese Embassy in Maseru, the event was addressed by Ambassador Lei Kezhong, who underscored that his country’s relationship with Lesotho was built on “the principles of equality, mutual respect, in-interference in each other’s internal affairs”.
Envoy highlights area of cooperation during celebrations
In the three decades since the resumption of cooperation between the two countries, “pragmatic cooperation ranges” had ranged from bilateral to international engagements, he said.
“In the bilateral area, we have sound cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, food security, renewable energy and scholarship and capacity building and trade,” Ambassador Lei Kezhong said.
“On the international arena, we both stand for the respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the policy of non-interference in the international affairs of other countries, uphold multilateralism and stand for peace and development. Lesotho stands firm on the one-China principle.”
China was ready to further upgrade “diplomatic relations, expand practical cooperation areas, and achieve greater development of China-Lesotho friendly cooperative relations”.
“On China’s diplomatic principles:
“First, we firmly choose cooperation over confrontation. Second, we choose solidarity over division. Third, we firmly choose openness over isolation. Fourth, we firmly choose peace over war. Fifth we firmly choose multilateralism over unilateralism. Sixth, we firmly choose justice over power politics,” he said.
Ambassador Lei Kezhong celebrates China’s continued economic growth
Ambassador Lei Kezhong said China was proud to have remained the second largest economy in the world since 2010. Among others, China had recorded a 5.2% growth last year while it now boasted of having 50% of the world’s population of electric cars.
“China’s solar power output accounts for more than half of the world’s total. We have the largest fast train network in the world. For the last 30 years, China contributed 30% of the world’s economic growth.
“China’s open policy benefits the whole world. China remains as the main trading partner to 140 countries and regions.”
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The Asian country remained committed to self-confidence and self-reliance, and shouldered due responsibility as a responsible major country. China committed to openness and inclusiveness while consolidated and expanded its global network of partnerships.
“We will always commit to fairness and justice, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world. We will always commit to win-win cooperation, and actively advance a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.
“Our objective set out by the 20 Party Congress of the CPC is to build a great modern socialist and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Ambassador Lei Kezhong said.
Among other things, guests took part in different traditional Chinese activities that included dumpling and spring roll making. They were entertained with song and dance by learners from Machabeng who exhibited their crafty skills.
Each Chinese New Year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac and 2024 is the Year of The Dragon. In the Chinese Zodiac, dragons are viewed as energetic, charismatic and warm-hearted symbolising power and luck. Those born under the dragon sign are often viewed as natural and strong leaders.
And food plays a key role in all the celebrations, with every dish holding a special symbolic meaning for instance, dumplings shaped like ancient gold ingots, represent wealth and prosperity.
Ambassador Lei Kezhong pledged to hold more similar events to promote mutual understanding, cultural exchange, friendship and cooperation providing assistance were possible.
