BEIJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Motsoahae Thomas Thabane, is paying an official visit to China on Sept. 1-7, during which he will attend the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to be held on Sept. 3-4.

The visit to China is the first of its kind by him in the capacity of Lesotho's prime minister.

Thabane, 79, was Lesotho's prime minister from June 2012 to February 2015, and has held the same office since June 2017.

In October 2006, he became the founder and leader of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) party after leaving the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) party.

During his political career, Thabane had served as the prime minister's advisor, minister of foreign affairs, minister of home affairs and public safety, and minister of communications, science and technology, among others.

Thabane holds a bachelor's degree in literature from the University of South Africa.