Eswatini Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu and her delegation arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a five-day visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
Eswatini is Taiwan’s only formal diplomatic ally in Africa.
The Eswatini delegation is scheduled to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and president-elect William Lai (賴清德) separately during its visit from yesterday to Sunday, the ministry said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Shakantu is also to attend a banquet hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), and the two top diplomats are to sign a communique to “reaffirm the robust relations” between the two nations, it said.
In addition, the delegation is to visit government agencies responsible for digital affairs, energy, culture, information technology, and meet with representatives from local companies interested in investing in Eswatini, it said.
The ministry did not specify if the trip has any specific objectives.
Shakantu, who previously served as Eswatini minister of justice, assumed the role of minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation in November last year, following parliamentary elections in Eswatini, the ministry said.
It said Shakantu’s visit is a testament to the African nation’s support for bilateral relations at a time when China has “made every effort to sabotage Taiwan’s ties with its allies.”
Eswatini, the last absolute monarchy in Africa, is the only country in Africa that formally recognizes Taiwan.
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