King Mswati III of Eswatini, the leader of Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, pledged to continue calling for Taiwan’s inclusion at the United Nations, at a ceremony hosted by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in Taipei on Friday.
“We will continue to advocate for the admission of Taiwan to the U.N. family,” said Mswati, who arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for a six-day visit, at the ceremony featuring a military salute.
Taiwan has a lot to share with the international community and should be allowed to freely and effectively participate in global technology, aviation and health affairs, the king said.
“The longer that Taiwan is not allowed to be a member of the U.N. family, the longer the world is deprived of vital components of global evolution,” he said.
Mswati is currently on his 18th visit to Taiwan, with the current delegation comprising his Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Thulisile Dladla; Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg; and Commerce, Industry, and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo.
Queen Inkhosikati LaMashwama, one of Mswati’s wives, and the king’s children have also joined him on his trip to Taiwan.
Taiwan and Eswatini have enjoyed “healthy diplomatic relations” since the two established formal ties in 1968, Mswati said, adding that the ongoing visit by the delegation demonstrated that “Eswatini is committed to giv[ing] support and solidarity to our friends” in Taiwan.
“What has kept us together all these years is a relationship that is built on a strong bond of friendship, respect, shared values and trust between our people,” the king added.
Eswatini is one of only a handful of absolute monarchies in the world, with Mswati taking the throne in 1986 following the death of his father, King Sobhuza II, who ruled the country for over eight decades.
Last July, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement urging the Eswatini authorities to “exercise restraint and respect human rights” following reports the kingdom’s security forces had used deadly force against pro-democracy protesters.
Meanwhile, Tsai said at the ceremony that cooperation between Taiwan and Eswatini had expanded in recent years, especially in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
She added that she looked forward to discussing issues of interest to Taiwan and Eswatini with the delegation to “jointly spur new developments” that benefit both sides.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the delegation will meet with officials from Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and co-host a business seminar to help attract potential Taiwanese investors to the African kingdom before its departure on Oct. 25.
In addition, the delegation is scheduled to visit the Taoyuan refinery of state-run oil company CPC Corp. and meet with Eswatini students in Taiwan, MOFA said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel