President Lai Ching-te said Feb. 11 that Taiwan is committed to cooperating with the Kingdom of Eswatini in sectors across the board while offering mutual support on the global stage.
Lai made the remarks while meeting with a delegation led by Thulisile Dladla, deputy prime minister of Eswatini, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. During the group’s five-day stay, members will attend a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and visit the Ministries of Labor and Health and Welfare.
Taiwan and Eswatini have enjoyed official ties for more than half a century and have created close cooperation in areas spanning agriculture, economy, medical care and trade, Lai said. The president further cited Taiwan’s assistance in projects such as building oil storage tanks in the South African ally.
According to Lai, Dladla stresses the importance of issues including gender equality, women’s empowerment, care of the disadvantaged and improved social welfare, and these are Taiwan's policy priorities. The president added that he looked forward to seeing more partnerships between the two countries and took the opportunity to thank Eswatini for supporting Taiwan’s international participation when speaking on international platform events.
In response, Dladla conveyed warm greetings from King Mswati III, Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala and the people of Eswatini. She confirmed that the oil storage tanks project will be launched in April to enhance the country’s energy security, citing further collaboration projects such as a new headquarters building for the central bank and an electrification plan.
The deputy prime minister lauded Taiwan’s assistance in improving Eswatini’s education and creating more job opportunities, citing Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ scholarship programs and the allies’ partnerships in the fields of industry, technology and medical care. She also confirmed Eswatini’s staunch support for Taiwan sovereignty and legal status in the international community.
On the same day, the delegation was also received by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun at the Executive Yuan. Cheng expressed similar sentiments to Lai’s and specifically anticipated further bilateral exchanges on gender equality. (YCH-E)
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