President Chen Receives Swazi Economic Planning Minister Prince Guduza
President Chen Receives Swazi Economic Planning Minister Prince Guduza
Taipei, April 19 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian received Economic Planning Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland Prince Guduza at the Presidential Office Friday, reaffirming Taiwan's friendship with the African nation.
President Chen said that the relations between the ROC and Swaziland have been increasingly strengthened since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1968 when the African kingdom obtained its independence.
Particularly, Chen told his guest, the economic cooperation between the two nations has sharply increased over the past years with two-way trade amounted to US$8 million in 2001, two times that of a year earlier.
In addition, Chen continued, Taiwan businessmen's investments in Swaziland have accumulated to US$24 million, creating more than 10,000 job opportunities for Swazi citizens.
He expressed the hope that Taiwan businessmen will make more investments in Swaziland to help improve its economy and living conditions of its people as well. President Chen also thanked Prince Guduza for his nation's support for the ROC in the international community. Also on hand were Swazi Ambassador to Taipei Moses Mathendele Dlamini and Deputy Secretary-General to the ROC President Joseph Wu.