The visit by Kingdom of Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and his delegation set to arrive in Taiwan March 18 is sincerely welcomed by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The group also comprises Mrs. Dlamini, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Prince Lonkhokhela and his wife, and PM Office Principal Secretary Bertram Stewart. This is Dlamini’s first visit since he took office in November and follows one by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu earlier this year, reflecting the robust ties between the two sides, the ministry said.
According to the MOFA, the government attaches great importance to Dlamini’s visit and will arrange meetings for the delegation with President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President Lai Ching-te and Premier Chen Chien-jen. The group will also attend a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, it added.
During their stay, the group will call at state-run CPC Corp., Taiwan’s refinery in Taoyuan City and CECI Engineering Consultants Inc. to discuss plans to set up strategic oil reserve facility in the African ally. They will also take part in a forum jointly organized by the MOFA and Taiwan External Trade Development Council in Taipei City to bring local firms up to speed on government incentives to conduct business in Eswatini, as well as travel to the southern city of Tainan to stop in at National Cheng Kung University’s Disaster Prevention Research Center.
Eswatini is a key ally that has been supporting Taiwan in various international venues throughout the years, the MOFA said, citing the prime minister’s call for Taiwan’s global participation during the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change’s COP 28 held in Dubai in last December.
Taiwan will continue to work with the kingdom to deepen bilateral cooperation across the board for the benefit of the people of both countries, the ministry said. (SFC-E)
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