Mbabane: Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has arrived in Eswatini, which stands as Taiwan’s sole diplomatic ally in Africa, to participate in festivities celebrating King Mswati III’s 57th birthday. Lin is acting as the special envoy of President Lai Ching-te.

According to Focus Taiwan, Lin and his delegation received a warm welcome from Foreign Minister Pholile Shakantu upon their arrival at the King Mswati III International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. This welcoming committee included dozens of overseas Taiwanese residing in Eswatini and other southern African nations.

During Lin’s first day in Eswatini, he attended a banquet with over 100 overseas Taiwanese from Eswatini, South Africa, Mozambique, and other neighboring African countries. The event also included members of the Overseas Community Affairs Council in Africa, the Africa Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, and the Amitofo Care Center, a Buddhist relief NGO founded by Taiwanese in Africa.

The delegation is invited to partake in the main celebratio
n scheduled for Friday and plans to return to Taiwan on Saturday. Lin is set to present a letter from President Lai and cows as gifts to King Mswati III and Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala.

Additionally, Lin will engage in discussions with Eswatini’s Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and Foreign Minister Shakantu to enhance bilateral relations and projects. Eswatini Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe had previously announced that the main celebration would occur in the Shiselweni Region on April 25.

Taiwan and Eswatini have maintained formal diplomatic relations since Eswatini gained independence on September 6, 1968. The Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, remains the last absolute monarchy in Africa and is the only African nation that formally recognizes Taiwan.