At 4,000 meters above the sea level, farmers in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region gathered to celebrate the Wangguo Festival, a traditional festival to greet the forthcoming harvest.
With barley wine in hand, farmers dance and riders race their steeds across the vast plateau, embracing a ritual that has a history of more than 1,500 years to express their hopes for a bountiful harvest.
The festival, held when crops are nearing maturity, is widely celebrated in Xizang's agricultural regions, particularly popular in rural areas along the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and the banks of the Lhasa River.
Monks from local temples select an auspicious day for the celebration. On this day, people dress in festive attire, bringing fine wine and food as they gather for the ceremony. Each family sends a member to join a grand procession, led by monks.
As they circle the ripening fields, they chant and pray for a successful harvest.
Colorful banners dance beneath azure skies as the music of fiddles and stomping feet compose the purest of harvest symphonies. This is authentic agrarian joy on the roof of the world, where the revelers, with their exuberance, defy the constraints of extreme altitude.
Due to varying climatic conditions, crop maturity dates differ across regions, meaning the festival does not have a fixed date. It is often observed at different dates in different place.
Wangguo Festival in Xizang: Earth's highest harvest revelry
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
