COUNTRY:  LESOTHO.

India and Lesotho reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations during the sixth meeting of the India-Lesotho Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation (JBCC) held in New Delhi. Co-chaired by Janesh Kain, Joint Secretary (East & Southern Africa) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Thabang P. Lekhela, Principal Secretary in Lesotho’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, the high-level dialogue conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral ties. According to an official statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, both nations assessed key progress across trade and economic engagement, skill development, capacity building, and mutual coordination at regional and multilateral forums.

Following the formal commission proceedings, the visiting delegation from Lesotho engaged in targeted ministerial discussions to convert bilateral goodwill into actionable partnerships. The delegation met with India’s Secretary for Economic Relations, Sudhakar Dalela, alongside key officials from the Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. Coverage from ANI News highlighted that both nations advanced negotiations on pending Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) while India extended invitations for Lesotho to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to bolster cooperation in renewable energy and climate resilience.

The talks underscored the long-standing friendship between New Delhi and Maseru, rooted in shared priorities surrounding South-South cooperation, sustainable development, and capacity-building programs. Reporting by The Economic Times emphasized that both countries pledged to expand institutional ties and humanitarian assistance initiatives. To sustain momentum, India and Lesotho agreed to host the seventh edition of the Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation in Maseru, Lesotho, in 2027.

PHOTO SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO.