Taiwanese President Lai Ching‑te will travel to Eswatini next week in what will be his second overseas trip since taking office in May 2024, the Presidential Office announced on Monday.
Lai is scheduled to visit the southern African kingdom from 22 to 27 April to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne and the monarch’s 58th birthday.
The trip follows a personal invitation from King Mswati III who visited Taiwan last year to attend Lai’s inauguration.
Eswatini and Taiwan have maintained formal diplomatic relations for 58 years, a partnership that has included development assistance, medical cooperation and support for Eswatini’s social and economic programmes.
Taiwan has provided significant aid to the kingdom, including antiviral medication in 2021 when King Mswati III fell ill with COVID‑19.
Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said Lai’s visit reflects Taiwan’s commitment to deepening the bilateral relationship at a time when the island has only 12 diplomatic allies worldwide.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has intensified efforts to isolate Taipei diplomatically, making each remaining partnership strategically important.
According to the itinerary, Lai will meet King Mswati III and the two leaders will sign a joint communiqué.
The delegation will also tour the site of a planned Taiwan‑supported industrial innovation park.
The delegation includes Presidential Office Secretary‑General Pan Men‑an and Foreign Minister Lin Chia‑lung.
Lai’s last overseas trip was in late 2024 when he visited Taiwan’s Pacific allies and made transit stops in the United States.
The upcoming visit will be the first by a Taiwanese president to Eswatini since 2023, when former president Tsai Ing‑wen travelled to the kingdom.
JN/APA