Foreign Minister Lin receives Eswatini delegation led by Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Mkhonta-Simelane

Foreign Minister Lin receives Eswatini delegation led by Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Mkhonta-Simelane

• Date：2025-10-23
• Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

October 23, 2025

No. 416

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung received a delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini led by Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane on the afternoon of October 22. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on tourism, ecological conservation, and climate change.

Minister Lin stated that he traveled to Eswatini in April and was accompanied by Minister Mkhonta-Simelane to Hlane Royal National Park. During his visit, he donated SZL 1 million on behalf of the Taiwan government to build a new rhinoceros habitat fence to support conservation efforts and named a newborn calf Formosa, highlighting Taiwan-Eswatini collaboration on global rhinoceros conservation.

Minister Lin said that he was pleased that Minister Mkhonta-Simelane and Royal Conservation Advisor Terence Evezard Reilly and his spouse had accepted invitations to make a reciprocal visit to Taiwan this year, further deepening bilateral tourism and conservation exchanges. Minister Lin also noted that a tour to Eswatini had been successfully organized at the end of September for Taiwan tourism operators, who were impressed by Eswatini's rich natural ecology and cultural resources. He expressed confidence that the number of Taiwan tourists to Eswatini would soon increase.

Minister Mkhonta-Simelane extended appreciation to the Taiwan government for its warm hospitality and said that the visit provided valuable insights into Taiwan's concrete accomplishments and experience in tourism, ecological conservation, and environmental policy. She stated that Taiwan was an important partner of Eswatini and expressed gratitude for its long-standing support of Eswatini's development. She also said that King Mswati III and the Eswatini government had consistently voiced staunch support for Taiwan at international events. She added that Eswatini hoped to attract two million tourists by 2027 and believed that Taiwan's assistance would help Eswatini more promptly reach its goal. She emphasized that Eswatini looked forward to deepening exchanges with Taiwan in domains such as climate change to achieve mutual benefit and prosperity.

Royal Conservation Advisor Reilly thanked Minister Lin for his donation to build fencing for the rhinoceros conservation area and personally presented him with several prints featuring rhinoceroses, including Formosa. To show his appreciation, Minister Lin presented the members of the delegation with wood carvings and high mountain tea from Taiwan, as well as a special gift-a book entitled Travel with Lin Chia-lung. The atmosphere was lively, and the deep friendship between the two sides was evident.

In the evening of that same day, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu hosted a welcome dinner for the delegation. Madame Liao Wan-ju, spouse of Minister Lin, attended on his behalf. During the dinner, she engaged in friendly conversation with Minister Mkhonta-Simelane on ecological issues. Other guests, including Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming and Administrative Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Kuo-shian, also exchanged views with the delegation, adding to the cheerful atmosphere.

Eswatini is an important diplomatic ally of Taiwan in Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will continue to work closely with the Eswatini government under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project to deepen and consolidate already rock-solid diplomatic ties, demonstrating Taiwan's concrete contributions to the international community. MOFA also hopes that through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, more Taiwanese tourists will visit Eswatini in the future, fostering closer bilateral exchanges and achieving the goal of coprosperity for Taiwan and Eswatini. (E)