Politics

ROC-Swaziland ties go from strength to strength

President Ma Ying-jeou meets with King Mswati III of Swaziland at the Presidential Office July 29. (CNA)

• Publication Date：07/30/2010
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Kwangyin Liu

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou met with Swaziland’s King Mswati III at the Presidential Office July 29, saying Taiwan will continue to implement a policy of flexible diplomacy based on humanitarianism, culture, economics and trade.

After the inking of the Cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement in June, with trade between the two sides expected to become even more solid, conditions are ripe for Taiwan’s expanded participation on the global front, the president said.

Ma noted that Taiwan and Swaziland have maintained diplomatic relations for 42 years and that its backing over this time has helped greatly in Taiwan’s efforts to take part in international affairs at all levels.

In September 2009 King Mswati spoke out in the U.N. General Assembly in support of Taiwan’s participation in activities organized by U.N.-affiliated organizations, for which Ma expressed the country’s appreciation.

The king is leading a ministerial delegation on a seven-day state visit aimed at promoting business opportunities in the Southern African country.

Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd., Taiwan’s largest telecom operator, signed a memorandum of understanding with Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corp. July 29 to facilitate future cooperation and improve the quality of service provided by the African company, local media reported.

King Mswati is scheduled to host a Taiwan-Swaziland Business Seminar at the Grand Hyatt Taipei July 30, to help Taiwanese enterprises better understand the investment environment in Swaziland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. (THN)