Taiwan’s freedom and democracy should not be affected by external pressure, Eswatini Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini said at a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday.
Dlamini, his wife and several Cabinet officials, who arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for an official visit, met with Tsai at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
The visit, following a trip by King Mswati III to Taiwan in October last year, is a demonstration of the deep ties between Taiwan and Eswatini, Tsai said.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
As this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations, Tsai thanked Eswatini for its long-term support of Taiwan’s international participation, adding that Taiwan would continue to deepen ties with the African nation.
The two states partnered to produce masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have continued to boost cooperation in fields such as the economy and trade, public health, and information and communication technology, she said.
Taiwan is Eswatini’s political ally and “an undisputed development partner,” which has been able to “sustain itself in spite of very harsh conditions,” which is worth learning from, Dlamini said.
He reiterated Eswatini’s commitment to “stand in solidarity” with Taiwan and to advocate for Taiwan’s admission to the UN, its affiliated bodies and other international agencies, where it can share its knowledge and experience in climate change, public health, energy and pollution.
Southern African states, including Eswatini, are suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as La Nina and El Nino weather phenomena, he said.
Taiwan’s assistance to the kingdom has “cemented our relationship and given us renewed hope” that the two sides can achieve more in unexplored fields, he added.
The trip allows Eswatini officials to meet with important development partners in Taiwan, which are “crucial to the social and economic development” of the kingdom, he said.
The delegation plans to visit CECI Engineering Consultants Inc (世曦工程) and the Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區) to learn more about the two countries’ cooperation in civil engineering, he said.
CECI has greatly helped with projects in Eswatini, including the construction of King Mswati III International Airport, the outpatient department of the Lobamba Government Hospital, and a biotechnology and innovation park at the Royal Science and Technology Park, he added.
The friendship between the two states has had concrete results for the development of the kingdom, especially in electrification, agriculture, health and infrastructure construction, Dlamini said.
He cited the example of an education collaboration with Taiwan, which he said enables Eswatini’s workforce to receive world-class education.
The “African Plan” launched in 2018 offers opportunities for Eswatini’s citizens to study and work in Taiwan, he added.
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