Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
March 19, 2024
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my warmest welcome to our friends from the Kingdom of Eswatini. We are honored by your presence. Prime Minister Dlamini, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your recent appointment. This visit holds great significance for Taiwan-Eswatini relations and is certain to bolster our already strong partnership.
The year 2023 marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Eswatini. Last September, President Tsai Ing-wen led a delegation to Eswatini to attend the double celebration of the 55th year of Eswatini’s independence and the 55th birthday of His Majesty King Mswati III. This January, Eswatini Foreign Minister Pholile Shakantu visited Taiwan. Together, we signed a joint declaration reaffirming Eswatini’s support for Taiwan’s international participation. Taiwan deeply appreciates these high-level exchanges, which underscore our solid bilateral friendship.
Taiwan-Eswatini relations have stood the test of time and remain rock solid. I would like to express my gratitude to the government of Eswatini for backing Taiwan in numerous international forums. In particular, I sincerely thank Prime Minister Dlamini for speaking up for Taiwan’s participation at the UNFCCC COP28. The government and people of Taiwan highly value Eswatini’s continued support.
Prime Minister, in your previous capacity as head of the National Disaster Management Agency, you demonstrated your dedication to humanitarian relief work. Since assuming the position of prime minister, you have once again leveraged your leadership capabilities to respond to the needs of the people, garnering praise across Eswatini.
Taiwan-Eswatini collaboration spans numerous domains, including agriculture, trade, education, health care, and women’s empowerment. Building on this strong foundation, we look forward to continuing to bolster cooperation to enhance the well-being of both our peoples.
In closing, I wish the esteemed delegation a fruitful and fulfilling visit. Now please join me in a toast: to the enduring friendship between Taiwan and the Kingdom of Eswatini and to the continued prosperity of both our nations. Thank you!