President Tsai Ing-wen said April 19 that Taiwan-Swaziland relations are going from strength to strength and the government will continue supporting the diplomatic ally’s development through expanded cooperation projects across a broad spectrum of areas.
The countries are partners in every sense of the word, Tsai said. They share a lifelong familial commitment to stand by and support each other, she added.
According to the president, this commitment involves assisting King Mswati III realize his 2022 national development vision. The interests and well-being of the people lie at the heart of bilateral ties, she said, adding that both sides benefit from improvements in respective conditions.
Tsai made the remarks during an address at 50/50 celebrations for the king’s 50th birthday and 50th anniversary of Swazi independence. Held in front of a large crowd at a stadium outside the capital Mbabane, the event coincided with the 50th anniversary of relations between Taiwan and Swaziland.
The president said the government’s support for the landlocked nation in southern Africa is best illustrated by joint programs in areas like agriculture, education, health care and infrastructure, citing the three-year, full scholarship program for economically disadvantaged college students and a greenhouse agricultural project for women she launched the day before.
Tsai also took the opportunity to express her sincere gratitude on behalf of the government and people for the king’s unwavering support of Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations. The country has no better and more outspoken friend on the international stage than Swaziland, she said.
Following the celebrations, the president inspected an agricultural mission operated by Taipei City-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) and attended a birthday dinner banquet for the king.
Tsai, making her first trip to Africa since taking office in May 2016, is on a four-day state visit to Swaziland. She is scheduled to arrive April 21 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. (SFC-E)
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