In a meeting with His Excellency King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland on June 16 at the Office of the President, President Chen Shui-bian said the Taiwan-Swaziland protocol on cooperation will soon expire next year, and he wished to renew the agreement on the basis of mutual consultation.
The president said that a new and better-fitting protocol on cooperation would be more satisfying to both countries and more instrumental to the development of Swaziland.
The president also praised His Excellency for his efforts in upgrading his Kingdom's political and economic standards. The president referred to the fact that Swaziland's new constitution started to take force this February, which is the milestone in consolidating and deepening the kingdom's democracy, and that the employment summit meeting convened by His Excellency has gathered a fund as much as US$200 million.
Moreover, the president thanked His Excellency for long supporting Taiwan's bid to participate in the United Nations and the World Health Assembly.
Since its independence, the Kingdom of Swaziland has been Taiwan's diplomatic ally for 38 years. Currently there are approximately 22 Taiwanese businesses investing in Swaziland, with a total investment of US$60 million which creates 14,000 job opportunities.
The other guests attending the meeting included Prince Mahlaha, Princess Phumelele, Governor of Ludzidzini Royal Village Jim Gama, and Foreign Minster Mathendele Dlamini. Taiwan's Secretary-General to the President Mark Chen and Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Kau were also present in the meeting.