On May 17, President Chen Shui-bian met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mathendele M. Dlamini of the Kingdom of Swaziland, and called for Swaziland's continuous support for Taiwan's bid to participate in this year's World Health Assembly (WHA) convention.
The president also showed the deepest concern over the famine in Swaziland, saying that, with the assistance of the World Vision, Taiwan will donate 5,000 tons of rice to relieve the Swaziland people from hunger.
Taiwan has had a 38-year-old friendship with Swaziland, based on which 22 Taiwanese businesses are running factories in Swaziland with a total investment of more than US$60 million.
Minister Dlamini once was his country's ambassador to Taiwan, and in 2002, he successfully facilitated the president's visit to the Kingdom. Currently he has three daughters studying in Taiwan. Through the minister, the president extended his regards to His Majesty King Mswai III of Swaziland.
Minister Dlamini's visit to the Office of the President was accompanied by Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Chang Siao-yueh. Ma Yung-chen, deputy secretary-general to the president, was also present at the meeting.