President Tsai Ing-wen’s delegation to the Kingdom of Eswatini touched down at the international airport in Mbabane Sept. 5, underscoring the government’s commitment to celebrating the two sides’ enduring friendship and advancing sustainable cooperation, according to the Presidential Office.
Later the same day, Tsai and King Mswati Ⅲ exchanged views on health and medicine, women’s empowerment, and economic cooperation. Afterward, the two witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on a loan program to fund women’s business startups by Taiwan’s Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-hua and Eswatini’s Economic Planning and Development Minister Tambo Gina, as well as the establishment of sister city relations between Kaohsiung City and Mbabane by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and his counterpart Vusi Tembe, the PO said.
Tsai said Taiwan has long held gender equality in high regard, adding that she is thrilled Taiwan Can Help facilitate women’s achievement in Eswatini. The other agreement establishing ties between two major cities is expected to foster further bilateral cooperation opportunities, she added.
According to the PO, a third agreement was inked on the building of a strategic oil storage facility. Tsai expressed hope that the plan will proceed smoothly and ensure a more secure energy supply in the African ally.
In response, Mswati called the MOUs a milestone in the two countries’ collaboration and said his kingdom has been following the example of developed countries like Taiwan. The bilateral cooperation is expected to aid his country in modernizing its rural areas and advancing its culture, economy and trade.
The king extended a warm welcome to Taiwan corporations looking to join the growing number of the country’s companies investing in Eswatini. He also took the opportunity to promise to continue promoting Taiwan’s participation in U.N. organizations and helping Taiwan deepen engagement with the world.
The visit is Tsai’s second to Eswatini since taking office in 2016 and is intended to celebrate both the kingdom’s 55th anniversary of its establishment and 55 years of formal ties with Taiwan.
(Source : September 6, 2023. Taiwan Today )
