The Kingdom of Eswatini will continue to advocate for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, saying global challenges cannot be effectively addressed while Taiwan is excluded.
This was said by Ambassador Vulindlela Kunene when he formally presented his Letters of Credence to President Lai Ching-te of the Republic of China, Taiwan, on Monday.
The presentation of credentials at the Presidential Office in Taipei marks the official commencement of Kunene’s tenure as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Eswatini to the Republic of China, Taiwan. 
Kunene said Eswatini’s position on Taiwan’s international participation remains firm, noting that pandemics and other humanitarian challenges require inclusive global responses.
Ambassador Kunene pointed out that Eswatini will continue to advocate for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
He added that global challenges, including pandemics and other humanitarian challenges cannot be effectively addressed while Taiwan is excluded.
He said Eswatini values its longstanding friendship with Taiwan and attaches the highest importance to the partnership.
“I have the honour of conveying to Your Excellency the warmest greetings and best wishes of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini,” said Kunene.
“Their Majesties gladly recall their many engagements with the leadership and people of Taiwan and attach the highest importance to this special friendship that exists between our two countries,” Kunene added.
He said the partnership between the two countries is visible across Eswatini’s development sectors.
According to Kunene, cooperation is evident in hospitals where Taiwanese medical teams work alongside Emaswati health professionals, on farms, in schools and universities, in technical and vocational training programmes and through scholarships that have enabled many Emaswati to acquire knowledge and skills in Taiwan.
“Taiwan’s partnership with Eswatini is visible in our hospitals, where Taiwanese medical teams work alongside Emaswati health professionals,” he said.
Kunene stated that it can be seen on both countries’ farms, schools and universities, in technical and vocational training programmes and in the growing number of Emaswati who have acquired knowledge and skills through scholarships in Taiwan.
He said the relationship has evolved from traditional development cooperation into major economic and infrastructure initiatives.
Kunene cited the International Convention Centre in Ezulwini, the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility and the Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park as evidence of this transition.
“The longstanding cordial relationship is also increasingly visible in major economic and infrastructure initiatives.
The International Convention Centre, the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility and the Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park demonstrate the transition of our partnership into a new phase, one centred on investment, industrialisation, energy security, technology transfer and employment creation,” he said.
He said the new phase is centred on investment, industrialisation, energy security, technology transfer and employment creation, reflecting a shift from aid to building productive capacity.
On political relations, Kunene said the closeness of the relationship is reflected in the warmth of exchanges between the leaders of the two countries.
He conveyed His Majesty King Mswati III’s appreciation for the invitation extended to him to participate in this year’s Double Ten National Day celebrations.
“The closeness of our relationship is equally reflected in the warmth of the exchanges between our two leaders.
In this regard, I wish to convey His Majesty King Mswati III’s sincere appreciation for the gracious invitation extended to him to participate in this year’s Double Ten National Day celebrations,” Kunene said.
Kunene’s credentials presentation comes as Eswatini and Taiwan continue to strengthen ties that span over five decades.
Eswatini is Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa and has consistently supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international bodies, including the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The two countries cooperate in health, agriculture, education, technical and vocational training, information and communications technology, infrastructure and human resource development.
Taiwanese medical missions have been deployed in Eswatini for years, while Emaswati students continue to benefit from scholarships to Taiwanese universities.
Major infrastructure projects funded and supported through the partnership include the International Convention Centre and Theatre, which has become a venue for continental meetings such as the Africa Seed Summit 2026, the national oil reserve project aimed at strengthening energy security, and the industrial park aimed at promoting manufacturing and job creation.
Kunene succeeds former ambassadors who have served to advance Eswatini’s interests in Taiwan and to facilitate development cooperation.
His appointment is expected to focus on consolidating existing cooperation while driving the new phase of investment-led partnership.
The presentation of Letters of Credence formally authorises Kunene to represent His Majesty,
the Government and people of Eswatini in Taiwan and to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.
