President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and King Mswati III of Eswatini reaffirmed their countries’ diplomatic partnership on Friday, October 9, as the king of the southern African nation made his 20th visit to Taiwan.
Lai welcomed the king and Queen Make Zuma at a military ceremony in Taipei ahead of Taiwan’s National Day on Saturday. This year marks 58 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Speaking at the ceremony held in Liberty Square, Lai said Taiwan and Eswatini have maintained mutual trust and supported each other despite changes in the international environment. He said cooperation has deepened across various fields in recent years under Taiwan’s Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, alongside growing exchanges between their peoples.
Mswati said he valued the longstanding friendship and cooperation with Taiwan. He spoke about the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1968, when Eswatini was taking its first steps as an independent country. He said Eswatini would continue advocating Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system, as well as its inclusion in multilateral organizations.
Mswati also recalled Lai’s state visit to Eswatini in May, when the two leaders celebrated the king’s 40th anniversary on the throne and the country’s 58th independence anniversary. Eswatini is Taiwan’s only official diplomatic ally in Africa.
The welcome ceremony included a 21-gun salute, the playing of both national anthems, and an inspection of the military honor guard.
