King Mswati III has pledged Eswatini’s continued support to calls for Taiwan’s inclusion at the United Nations, according to reports monitored here on Friday.
The reports said Mswati, who is on a six-day official visit to Taiwan, told Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during a meeting in Taipei on Friday that Eswatini “will continue to advocate for the admission of Taiwan to the UN family.”
“The longer that Taiwan is not allowed to be a member of the UN family, the longer the world is deprived of vital components of global evolution,” Mswati is quoted as saying.
Taiwan, which is also known as the Republic of China, was expelled from the UN in 1971 following the adoption of Resolution 2758 that recognised the People’s Republic of China as China’s sole representative in the UN.
The development saw Taiwan losing its membership in all intergovernmental organisations related to the UN.
King Mswati III said Taiwan had a lot to share with the international community and should be allowed to participate in global issues as it had expertise in technology, aviation and health affairs.
Mswati is currently on his 18th visit to Taiwan, with the current delegation comprising his Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Thulisile Dladla; Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg; and Commerce, Industry, and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo.
Taiwan and Eswatini have enjoyed “healthy diplomatic relations” since the two established formal ties in 1968, Mswati said.
Eswatini is one of 13 countries or jurisdictions that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Others are Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Vatican City, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu.
The Eswatini monarch arrived in Taiwan on Thursday.
JN/APA