On the morning of August 28, distinguished BLCU alumnus Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso of the Kingdom of Lesotho—Senator and Grand Chief of the Maseru Region—led a delegation to visit Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). President Duan Peng welcomed the prince on behalf of the university and arranged a simple yet warm welcome ceremony and discussion session.
Accompanying the prince were Lin Songtian, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Member of the China-Africa Friendship Group, former President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and former Ambassador to South Africa; Xu Min, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the CPPCC National Committee General Office; Princess Masentle Seeiso Seeiso, wife of the prince; Senator and Grand Chief of the Ribeng Region Joel Andrew Motsoene; the prince's economic and trade advisor Tuso Pitso; and the prince's agricultural advisor Bokang Cyprianus Pitje. Vice President Zhang Baojun presided over the exchange activities.
President Duan Peng first extended a warm welcome to Prince Seeiso on behalf of the university. He noted that over 30 years ago, Prince Seeiso spent unforgettable study time at BLCU, and the university has always been immensely proud to count him as a distinguished alumnus. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Lesotho, Prince Seeiso's visit will undoubtedly promote cooperation and exchanges in education between the two countries, deepening cultural understanding and friendship. Since its founding in 1962, BLCU has been a key university directly under the Chinese Ministry of Education, cultivating many outstanding alumni and establishing close exchange and cooperation relations with universities and educational organizations worldwide. In October 2023, distinguished BLCU alumnus President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan visited his alma mater. In July this year, the BLCU Kazakhstan Branch was established in Astana, with the unveiling ceremony attended by the heads of state of both countries, marking a significant historical moment in the university's development and highlighting BLCU's unique position in Chinese higher education. Looking ahead, BLCU is eager to establish comprehensive cooperation with universities in Lesotho across various fields, form the Lesotho Sinologists Council, promote exchanges with Lesotho educational and cultural institutions, share the fruits of civilization development between China and Lesotho, advance mutual learning among civilizations, and set a model for China-Lesotho educational connectivity.
Associate Professor Feng Weigang, Prince Seeiso's teacher during his time at BLCU, expressed in his address that he was thrilled to reunite with his former outstanding student, renewing their teacher-student bond from 30 years ago. He recalled that Prince Seeiso was the first African international student he taught, and the prince's and his classmates' diligent and hardworking figures left a deep impression on him, unforgettable to this day. Over the years, BLCU has trained many international alumni, including the prince, who shoulder the responsibility of leading their countries and peoples toward development dreams in various fields. The prince has sown the seeds of China-Africa friendship across the vast African continent. Prince Seeiso's special return to his alma mater during his visit to China with the delegation is the best symbol of further deepening friendship between China and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Prince Seeiso delivered an important speech, expressing his honor in returning to his alma mater. He first conveyed sincere thanks to President Duan Peng and the university's teachers for their warm reception. With great emotion, he reminisced about his studies at BLCU 30 years ago, cherishing those memories. His mentor Professor Feng's patient guidance helped him overcome initial challenges in Chinese learning. Studying at BLCU not only equipped him with Chinese language knowledge but also gave him a profound understanding of the Chinese people and culture. He mentioned that following him, many students from Lesotho and other African countries have come to BLCU to study. He encouraged these students to not only master the language but also delve deeply into Chinese culture and engage in exchanges with the Chinese people. Through the power of education, China-Africa friendship can take root, blossom, and bear fruit on the African continent, with the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September serving as an important witness to this vision. As cooperation between China and Africa deepens in culture, economy, and other fields, the prince hopes this visit will further promote bilateral relations between China and Lesotho, as well as exchanges and cooperation in education, adding new vitality to China-Lesotho friendship.
Subsequently, President Duan Peng, on behalf of BLCU, presented Prince Seeiso with a tea table representing Chinese tea culture, his student ID card from his time at BLCU, and a special edition school badge, inviting the prince to visit his alma mater often.
After the ceremony, Prince Seeiso and his delegation toured the campus. At the University History Museum, Prince Seeiso viewed the university's educational achievements and photos and materials of outstanding alumni. The prince inscribed his thoughts of nostalgia and gratitude for his alma mater and posed for commemorative photos.
Subsequently, Prince Seeiso and his entourage visited the Chinese Smart Classroom and observed an elementary Chinese comprehensive course taught by Teacher Li Yan from the School of Applied Chinese. Teacher Li skillfully incorporated the teaching of the particle "le" to showcase the changes from BLCU's past to present. Old photos evoked fond memories for the alumni, while also allowing everyone to deeply feel the inheritance and vigorous progress of Chinese education at BLCU through the university's rapid development.
Prince Seeiso and his delegation also walked to the on-campus Mutual Learning Among Civilizations Garden to admire the statue group representing China-foreign cultural exchanges and mutual understanding, fostering people-to-people bonds.
At the conclusion of the visit, Prince Seeiso expressed gratitude for BLCU's gracious reception and invited BLCU faculty and students to visit Lesotho to further deepen friendship and understanding between the peoples of both countries. This visit not only strengthened ties between Lesotho and BLCU but also opened new prospects for cooperation in education and culture, with both sides joining hands to carry forward the past and forge ahead, jointly composing a new chapter in China-Lesotho friendship.
Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso is the younger brother of King Letsie III, former Speaker of the Lesotho Senate, and current Grand Chief of the Maseru Region where the royal family resides, as well as a Senator. In 1975, he went to the UK for studies; in 1988, he came to Beijing Language Institute (now BLCU) to learn Chinese; in 1996, he earned a master's degree in International Studies from the University of Birmingham, UK; and in 2007, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham. In October 2005, he served as Lesotho's High Commissioner to the UK. In 2006, he co-founded a charity with British Prince Harry to support Lesotho's fight against AIDS.
(Edited by: Chen Siyu)
