The Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of India held the 6th Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation (JBCC) in New Delhi on 30 July, 2026. During the opening session, both sides reaffirmed their longstanding friendship and commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation. The JBCC remains the principal institutional mechanism for reviewing bilateral relations, advancing cooperation across key sectors, and identifying new opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership between the two sister countries.
The JBCC was established under the Agreement signed in March 2004, with its inaugural Session convened in New Delhi in March 2009. Since then, the joint sessions have been held periodically, alternating between Maseru and New Delhi, to review progress, strengthen institutional collaboration, and identify new areas of mutual interest.
The Session was co-chaired by Ambassador Janesh Kain, Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India, and Mr Thabang Polycarp Lekhela, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of the Kingdom of Lesotho with Senior Officials from both Governments, including representatives from Lesotho – New Delhi Diplomatic Mission, Ministries of Trade, Business Development, Education and Training, Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, and Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture.
A major outcome of the 6th Session advanced several proposed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreed sign at the earliest opportunity.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing sustainable development through South–South cooperation and strengthening collaboration in regional and multilateral fora. India reiterated its invitation for Lesotho to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as important platforms for cooperation in renewable energy and infrastructure resilience.
Both sides concluded that the 7th Session of the Lesotho–India Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation will be convened in Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho on dates to be agreed upon.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international relations.
