From August 5th to 12th, 2018, the China Youth Delegation led by Amb. Ou Boqian, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) visited Lesotho and South Africa. The delegation consisted of 50 young delegates from 30 government organizations, local offices of foreign affairs, think tanks and media agencies.

In Lesotho, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Hon. Halebonoe Sets'abi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, and attended discussions with young representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Development and Planning, and from the Chinese Embassy and Chinese enterprises respectively, on the topics of China-Lesotho relations, China-Africa relations and youth exchanges. The delegation also visited Lesotho Parliament Building constructed by Chinese company and aided by Chinese government, as well as Maseru Children Village, a local charity institute, and donated some daily necessities to the village. H.E. Amb. Sun Xianghua, Ambassador of China to Lesotho was present at relevant events.

In South Africa, the delegation had warm discussions with Amb. Genge, Chief Director for East Asian and Oceanian Affairs and young diplomats from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, as well as with the Chinese Embassy and Chinese enterprises respectively, on the topics of China-South Africa relations and China-Africa cooperation. The delegation also visited the HUAWEI Innovation Center in South Africa and a poverty alleviation and ability training program launched by the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League in local community. H.E. Amb. Lin Songtian, Ambassador of China to South Africa was present at relevant events.

This visit is a project under the China-Africa Youth Exchange Mechanism launched by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and one of the supporting and warm-up activities for the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.