President Tsai visits Taiwan Technical Mission in Swaziland
On the afternoon of April 19 local time (Thursday evening Taipei time), President Tsai Ing-wen paid a visit to the Taiwan Technical Mission in Swaziland.
After listening to a briefing from Mission Chief Chang Ching Yeh (葉長青) on the mission's work, President Tsai delivered remarks. Explaining that she was visiting the mission to understand operations there and thank the staff, the president said she was happy to see that Taiwan can do so much for a diplomatic ally so far away. Although the technical mission does not have a lot of manpower it has provided much assistance, she said, and working there must give everyone a great sense of accomplishment.
Noting that the members of the technical mission are working and living far from home, President Tsai said this must be a very meaningful experience for them. She was quite happy to see young men doing alternative national service at the technical mission, contributing their skills and engaging in technical exchanges. World travel gives young people opportunities to learn, grow, and enrich their lives, she stated.
President Tsai praised the leadership of Mission Chief Yeh, who has maintained an environment where colleagues can make full use of their strengths and expertise, and young people can experience a different culture. During the meeting, the president took an avid interest in the members of the technical mission, frequently inquiring about their everyday lives and health.
Afterwards, the president, guided by Mission Chief Yeh, went to the pitaya orchard of the Fruit Tree Production and Marketing Project, and the greenhouse area to learn about their operations, and personally picked pitaya in the orchard.
Among those present were National Security Council Secretary-General David T. Lee (李大維), National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥), Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), and ROC Ambassador to Swaziland Thomas J.C. Chen (陳經銓).