Dr. Lin Chia-lung
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
April 24, 2025
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good morning！
The opening of the 5G Government Network and Smart City Development Project operations center is a milestone in Eswatini’s national development. It is an honor to be jointly hosting this ceremony with Prime Minister Dlamini (喇米尼). We are witnessing an important step toward achieving His Majesty King Mswati (m-swa-ti)’s vision of making Eswatini a first-world nation.
ICT is developing at a rapid pace. Digital and smart technologies are improving the quality of life, driving social progress, and creating economic growth. They have become a part of our everyday lives.
Taiwan is known as a smart technology island. We have worked hard to develop reliable networks, reinforce digital governance, safeguard digital sovereignty, and build smart cities. In these areas, we have achieved some success and improved the well-being of our people.
As an active and responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is keen to share its achievements with allied nations. During his tenure as CEO of the National Disaster Management Agency in 2022, Prime Minister Dlamini (喇米尼) took part in Taiwan’s Advanced Training Program on Disaster Prevention Technology and Management. Last month, Mayor Mkhonta (m-kon-ta) and CEO Fakudze (fa-ku-ze) attended the Smart City Expo in Taiwan, where they had the opportunity to see developments and applications of smart city initiatives.
Taiwan and Eswatini are working closely together on the 5G Government Network and Smart City Development Project. This initiative will support economic and social development in Eswatini. It will create a dedicated 5G network for the government to ensure digital sovereignty and maintain network security. Transportation, public safety, and disaster prevention systems will be connected with 5G infrastructure. This will transform Mbabane into a smart city. The program will also increase the efficiency of urban governance.
The capital city of Mbabane is the starting point. Moving forward, the project will be expanded to other major cities. Eswatini is on a path to becoming a 5G nation with first-world status. This project shows that Taiwan can help. It also demonstrates that Taiwan-plus-Eswatini cooperation is greater than the sum of its parts.
Guided by the spirit of Nkwe (恩軌), Taiwan will continue to collaborate with Eswatini. We plan to introduce digital and smart technologies into other sectors such as health care and business. Our goal is to create a technological Taiwan and a smart Eswatini. Let us keep working together to improve the well-being of our people.
Thank you.