Foreign minister arrives in Eswatini to celebrate king's birthday

Taipei, April 23 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has arrived in Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa, to attend celebrations in honor of King Mswati III's 57th birthday as President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) special envoy.

Upon arrival at the King Mswati III International Airport on Tuesday afternoon (local time), Lin and his delegation were welcomed by Foreign Minister Pholile Shakantu, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) press release issued Wednesday.

Dozens of overseas Taiwanese living in the African kingdom and other southern Africa countries were also at the airport to welcome Taiwan's top diplomat, the MOFA statement said.

During his first day in the African ally, Lin joined a banquet featuring more than 100 overseas Taiwanese from Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique and other nearby African countries, MOFA said.

Other participants at the dinner included members of the Overseas Community Affairs Council in Africa, the Africa Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, and the Amitofo Care Center, a Taiwanese-founded Buddhist relief NGO in Africa.

The delegation has been invited to attend festivities and the main celebration scheduled for Friday, before heading back to Taiwan on Saturday, according to MOFA.

The foreign minister will present a letter from Lai and cows as gifts to the king and Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala, the ministry said.

Lin will also hold meetings with Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and Shakantu on bilateral ties and projects, according to the statement.

In March, Eswatini Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe announced that the main celebration of King Mswati III's 57th birthday would take place on April 25 in the Shiselweni Region of the landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa.

Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China, and the Kingdom of Eswatini, established formal diplomatic ties when it became independent on Sept. 6, 1968.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is the last absolute monarchy in Africa and the only country on the continent that formally recognizes Taiwan.