Wales should be proud of international links with Africa, MPs have been told.
Ian Lucas, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Africa and the Middle East, praised the links forged between Wrexham and Lesotho during a debate on UK-Africa relations in the House of Commons today. A Commonwealth Games team from Lesotho will be welcomed to Wrexham later this month before the 2014 games in Glasgow – and top athletes have already been based in Wrexham before the 2012 London Olympics.
Speaking in the Commons this week, Mr Lucas said that the spirit of partnership between Wrexham and Lesotho is one which others building relationships between Lesotho and Africa could emulate. Welsh communities, via Dolen Cymru Wales Link and other organisations, have been building educational links with Lesotho in recent years and Mr Lucas has visited the company several times and spoken at its Parliament. He also welcomed the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Thomas Thabane, to Westminster earlier this year.
In a wide-ranging speech today, Mr Lucas praised Lesotho for its links with Wales and said:
“It is sending its Commonwealth Games team to be based in Wrexham this summer. That follows on from basing its Olympic Games team here.”
He also added that: “We have seen in Wrexham how important it is we learn from each other.”
Speaking afterwards, Mr Lucas added:
“Wrexham’s relationship with Lesotho is one which has benefitted both parties, and I am pleased to see the links between us grow stronger each year.
“The world is changing and I believe forging global links such as these helps us all.”
