R.O.C. (Taiwan) and Eswatini foreign ministers sign joint statement underscoring enduring bilateral diplomatic alliance
May 21, 2024
No. 177
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lin Chia-lung accompanied President Lai Ching-te to a meeting with King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini at the Presidential Office on the morning of May 21. Following the meeting, Minister Lin and Eswatini Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu signed a joint statement at a ceremony witnessed by the heads of state of the two countries. The ceremony was also witnessed by Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei, and Governor of the Central Bank of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) Yang Chin-long.
The joint statement marked the first cooperation document to be signed with a diplomatic ally since President Lai took office. It underscored the solid diplomatic alliance between Taiwan and Eswatini as well as Eswatini’s firm support of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. The two countries reiterated their commitment to continuing to cooperate in such areas as public health, agriculture, trade and investment, vocational training, education, women’s empowerment, youth employment, countering information manipulation and the dissemination of disinformation, mutual legal assistance, and combating cross-border crime. These joint efforts will help achieve new breakthroughs in the partnership between Taiwan and Eswatini.
Following the joint statement, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding on bilateral cooperation—one on developing a business digitalization project and the other on collaboration between the Central Bank of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and the Central Bank of Eswatini.
Eswatini established official ties with Taiwan immediately after gaining independence in 1968 and has since remained a staunch diplomatic ally in Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will build on this solid friendship to further advance cooperation and exchanges and enhance the cordial partnership between Taiwan and Eswatini. (E)
