MANZINI – His Majesty King Mswati III has returned to the country following a nine-day visit to Taiwan, during which he attended National Day celebrations, met emaSwati students and workers, toured healthcare and agricultural facilities and held engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The King, accompanied by Liphovela LaZuma, was welcomed back home by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Cabinet Ministers and members of the Royal Family.
The visit, which ran from October 9 to 17, coincided with 58 years of diplomatic relations between Eswatini and Taiwan. It provided an opportunity for the two countries to reaffirm their long-standing partnership and explore further cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture, technology and investment.
One of the notable engagements was the King’s meeting with emaSwati students, workers and other nationals living in Taiwan. The gathering, held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei, brought together members of the Eswatini community for dinner with the King and his delegation.
During the engagement, His Majesty emphasised the importance of education, skills development and international work experience in advancing Eswatini’s development aspirations. He encouraged students to take advantage of their exposure to Taiwan’s economy by acquiring specialised knowledge and practical experience that could be applied back home.
The King highlighted fields such as engineering, healthcare, agriculture, energy and technology, encouraging emaSwati abroad to maintain discipline and represent their country positively.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu announced that each Eswatini national present at the gathering would receive US$500, equivalent to approximately E8 000. The King attended Taiwan’s 115th National Day celebrations on October 10, alongside Liphovela LaZuma and a senior Eswatini delegation.
His Majesty was received by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, with the celebrations providing an opportunity to reaffirm diplomatic relations established in 1968.
During the visit, the two leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, aimed at strengthening cooperation in judicial and law-enforcement processes.
Discussions also covered investment, industrialisation, education, healthcare and technology, with both countries seeking to strengthen cooperation in areas that could contribute to economic development.
On October 11, the King and President Lai visited the Army Aviation Training Command in Tainan, where they were briefed on military aviation training and equipment. The leaders were introduced to flight simulator technology and tried the simulator themselves. The King also sat in the cockpit of a Black Hawk helicopter.
The visit highlighted aviation cooperation following Taiwan’s donation of two retired UH-1H helicopters to Eswatini in 2020.
Taiwanese military personnel trained 11 emaSwati pilots and maintenance officers between 2019 and 2020 to operate and maintain the aircraft. The helicopters have assisted the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force Air Wing, including in emergency medical evacuations.
Healthcare cooperation also featured during the visit, with the King touring Taipei Medical University Hospital on October 12.
The engagement marked 17 years of cooperation between the institution and Eswatini, a partnership established in 2009 that has included medical services, healthcare worker training and support for local health facilities. The hospital has also supported digital healthcare initiatives, including introducing the TAIP-X smart healthcare platform at Manzini Government Hospital.
The King’s programme further included a visit to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Floral Industry Innovation Park research and development centre in Tainan, where the delegation was exposed to agricultural research and technology.
Industrialisation and investment were also discussed, including the proposed Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park in Eswatini, associated with ambitions to promote manufacturing, investment and employment creation. The engagements formed part of broader efforts to strengthen cooperation and encourage skills transfer between the two countries.
The King’s return marked the conclusion of a visit covering diplomacy, education, healthcare, aviation, agriculture and investment, reaffirming the long-standing relationship between Eswatini and Taiwan.
