LESOTHO PMECISION TO OPEN MISSION MOTIVATED BY SHARED DESIRE TO BROADEN RELATIONSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- The Lesotho government's decision to
establish a resident diplomatic mission here was motivated by a shared desire to
strengthen and broaden relationship and beneficial cooperation with Malaysia,
said Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.

The visiting premier said it was also an acknowledgement of the high esteem
held by Lesotho for Malaysia as a valued friend, partner in development and
shinning example of what a country could achieve, given the peace and stability,
and well-planned and articulated development strategies.

"There is no doubt that by forging closer links with this great country, we
can learn from Malaysia's best practices and emulate her experience," he said at
the official opening of the Lesotho Mission which was established in 2008, at No
5, Persiaran Ampang, off Jalan Ampang, here, today.

Mosisili arrived here Wednesday for a four-day official visit to Malaysia.

He said while Malaysia was a fast developing country and one of the most
vibrant economies in Southeast Asia, the tiny African kingdom had also been
highly impressed with the speed by which Malaysia had attained competence in
information technology and human resource development, and the resounding
success in the transformation of its entire economy.

Mosisili who also launched the mission's website, said bilateral relations
between the two counries remained excellent and showed all the potential
to develop further into new areas.

He said that for more than three decades now, Lesotho and Malaysia had
cordial cooperation within the context of international organisations to which
the two countries had common membership, among them the United Nations and the
Commonwealth.

"From the platforms of these two and other organisations, Lesotho and
Malaysia have joined hands and worked together in support of global efforts for
the preservation of international peace and security, and in the promotion of
dialogue as the best option for resolution of disputes in international
relations."

He said both countries also had joined hands to promote South-South
cooperation and to encourage technological transfer among countries of the
South to achieve the necessary economic self-sufficiency and to ensure fairness
in international trade relations.

Speaking to reporters later, the Lesotho prime minister said the opening of
the mission opened up opportunities for mutual benefit in trade, investment,
education and other areas.

He said currently, bilateral trade between the two countries was very
minimal but there was great potential for expansion.

Mosisili said Lesotho was focusing on education, adding that it was also
impressed with Malaysia's tourism industry, hoping that Malaysia could transfer
its expertise and experience to Lesotho, which has a small tourism industry but
with a huge potential.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay said the
opening of the high commission had and would foster greater relations, not only
for the governments of the two countries but also for their people.

"We pride ourselves for hosting Lesotho's diplomatic representative in this
region, which I understand is concurrently accredited to Australia, Brunei,
Indonesia, New Zealand and Thailand."

Kohilan said that 23 years ago, both countries established diplomatic
relations which were heightened with the inaugural accreditation of Malaysia's
High Commissioner in Harare, Zimbabwe to Lesotho in 1993.

Then, the High Commissioner of Malaysia in Pretoria, South Africa had been
concurrently accredited to Lesotho, a landlocked country of more than 2.07
million people.
-- BERNAMA