Lesotho government seeks to extend cooperation with Cuba

Lesotho’s Foreign Affairs Department said in a statement that the 5th
Session of the Joint Commission for Economic, Technical and Scientific
Cooperation between Lesotho and Cuba will be taking place in Havana,
Cuba, today and tomorrow. 

"The meeting will afford the two countries the opportunity to review
their bilateral cooperation over the past two years and to agree on new
activities for the next two years," said the statement from the Maseru
ministry. 

The government of Cuba has over the past years been assisting Lesotho
in the areas of health, human resource development, physical education
and sports. The government of Lesotho said it hoped that the
cooperation would be extended to new areas such as the energy sector,
culture and others. 

Lesotho has currently commissioned a number of studies to look into
among others, alternative energy supply, with its current hydro-power
plant not being able to meet the country’s energy demands. Amongst new
technologies lined-up to supply alternative power, the country is
studying wind farming potentials at several highlands and foothills
areas. 

Lesotho’s delegation to Cuba is led by Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mohlabi Tsekoa, who will also be joined by other senior government
officials as well as Lesotho’s ambassador to Canada, MotÅ¡eoa Senyane. 

The bilateral meetings are held biennially, alternating in the two
capitals of Maseru and Havana. Diplomatic relations between Lesotho and
Cuba were established in 1976. The two countries signed a General
Cooperation Agreement in 2000, which led to the establishment of a
Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation.