President Tsai Ing-wen said June 8 that Taiwan is committed to strengthening the robust partnership with the Kingdom of Eswatini through expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and trade.
 
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as well as King Mswati III’s 50th birthday and 50 years since the southern African nation’s independence from Great Britain, Tsai said. The mutual assistance and trust accumulated over the past half-century have established an enduring collaborative relationship spanning a broad spectrum of areas such as agriculture, economics, education and medical care, she added.
 
The president made the remarks while receiving King Mswati III, Queen Inkhosikati LaMotsa and Eswatini ministers and officials at the Office of the President in Taipei City. The king and his delegation, visiting until June 12, were welcomed with full military honors and a 21-gun salute outside the Presidential Office Building.
 
Noting that this trip marks King Mswati III’s 17th to Taiwan and comes not long after her four-day state visit to Eswatini in April, Tsai said that the frequency of high-level exchanges demonstrates the great value both sides place on the strong bilateral relationship.
 
According to the president, the firm friendship is also evidenced in Eswatini’s staunch backing for Taiwan’s international participation, with the diplomatic ally speaking in support of the country during the U.N. General Assembly last September as well as the May meeting of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization. She expressed gratitude for this backing and offered thanks to the king for visiting Taiwan to celebrate the milestone in their bilateral partnership.
 
Later the same day, Tsai and King Mswati III witnessed the inking of a bilateral economic cooperation agreement. Under the pact, the countries will expand collaboration in areas spanning agriculture, education, health care, investment, information and communication technology, sustainable development, trade and tourism, according to the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
 
During the signing ceremony, Tsai highlighted two initiatives unveiled during her state visit. These are a three-year scholarship program for economically disadvantaged college students and a technical training project aimed at helping women find employment in agriculture.
 
Such projects in allied nations are formulated through extensive dialogue so as to deliver effective, tailored solutions, Tsai said, adding that Taiwan is willing and able to make greater contributions to the international community.
 
In response, King Mswati III conveyed gratitude for assistance to Eswatini over the previous decades, adding that his country can learn much from Taiwan’s development experiences.
 
Describing Taiwan as his second home, the king said that as a long-term friend Eswatini will continue to raise awareness of the country’s outstanding work around the world. Eswatini also looks forward to further bolstering the robust partnership, he added. (KWS-E)