At noon of November 25, President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) of the Legislative Yuan received and hosted a banquet for a seven-member delegation led by Speaker Jabulani Clement Mabuza of the House of Assembly of the Kingdom of Eswatini. President Han was accompanied by KMT Legislator Chang Chih-Lun, DPP Legislator Kuo Yu-Ching, and TPP Legislator Mai Yu-Chen. Also in attendance were Eswatini’s Chargé d'affaires ad interim Nontokozo Shongwe-Tsabedze and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ger Bau-Shuan from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Upon the delegation’s arrival at the Legislative Yuan, President Han personally greeted Speaker Mabuza and the accompanying delegation members at the main entrance, together with attending legislators, while Legislator Chang presented a flower bouquet to Speaker Mabuza. President Han then escorted the delegation into the venue and invited Speaker Mabuza to write down a message and sign the Legislative Yuan’s guestbook. Speaker Mabuza wrote moving words on the spot, expressing his honor for visiting “Taiwan, which we call our second home,” leaving behind a valuable written record.
In his remarks, President Han first extended a warm welcome to the delegation, noting that Eswatini is Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa. He explained that legislators from across party lines were invited to attend the meeting, demonstrating the Legislative Yuan’s high regard for the visit and its hope to further deepen parliamentary exchanges between the two sides.
President Han further said that he was impressed by Eswatini’s strong economic performance in recent years, with an average economic growth projected to reach 6 percent this year and next (2026), reflecting a solid economic foundation and promising development potential. He added that Taiwan is honored to be a steadfast partner in Eswatini’s national development. President Han stated that since the Joint Ministerial Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation (JMC) was first convened in 1995, meetings have been held annually at the ministerial level, expressing his hope that both sides can continue this institutionalized cooperative relationship.
President Han went on to note that cumulative Taiwanese investment in Eswatini has exceeded US$100 million as of October this year, with more than 20 Taiwanese enterprises having established a long-term presence in the country, creating nearly 14,000 jobs. Proportionally speaking, he added, one out of every 100 Eswatini citizens is employed by a Taiwanese company, delivering tangible and long-term benefits to Eswatini’s economic development, employment opportunities, and social stability.
In closing, President Han stressed that of the Legislative Yuan’s 113 legislators, 25 from across party lines are members of the Taiwan-African Countries Parliamentary Friendship Association. He expressed hope that this exchange would help build bridges of friendship between Taiwan and African countries and foster closer ties.
In his remarks, Speaker Mabuza stated that he was deeply honored to lead the delegation to Taiwan in his capacity as Speaker, and conveyed greetings from the King and the people of Eswatini to all sectors of Taiwan. He described the visit as rich and fulfilling, expressing his gratitude for engaging with various Taiwanese industries, and mentioned that Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, as well as the resilience and creativity of its people, had left a profound impression on him. As parliamentarians, Speaker Mabuza said, one of the most important responsibilities is to advance parliamentary diplomacy. He expressed confidence that, building on mutual trust and long-standing cooperation, both sides could further promote bilateral exchanges through open dialogue and joint initiatives, with the shared goal of peace, stability, and prosperity. Speaker Mabuza concluded by expressing his hope that the diplomatic ties between the two countries would endure, as they work together to bring greater well-being to their peoples.
Following the remarks, the two sides exchanged commemorative gifts and took group photos to mark the occasion. President Han presented Speaker Mabuza with a commemorative gavel symbolizing the legislature, while Speaker Mabuza reciprocated with a handcrafted necklace featuring the national flags of both countries, symbolizing their firm diplomatic friendship.
President Han then hosted a banquet for the delegation together with attending legislators. During the luncheon, both sides engaged in extensive discussions on a wide range of issues. President Han noted that Taiwan’s advanced technology and medical expertise could strengthen bilateral talent cultivation and exchanges, helping to enhance Eswatini’s human resources and healthcare quality in the fields of technology and medicine. In response, Speaker Mabuza expressed his hope that more outstanding Taiwanese physicians would visit Eswatini for exchanges in the future. Legislator Chang also recalled assisting Eswatini officials in seeking medical treatment in Taiwan in the past, witnessing firsthand the tangible benefits Taiwan’s healthcare system has brought to its diplomatic allies. Speaker Mabuza also mentioned that Taiwan’s textile technology has long assisted Eswatini in upgrading its garment industry. Legislator Kuo, who had just returned from a visit to Taiwan’s diplomatic ally Paraguay, added that Taiwan’s mature textile expertise has helped many allied countries upgrade their industrial capabilities and boost economic growth, not only strengthening bilateral relations but also serving as an exemplary model of international cooperation. Regarding educational and academic exchanges, President Han proposed encouraging the people of Eswatini to learn Mandarin Chinese. Legislator Mai echoed this view, noting that Taiwan has long dispatched Mandarin teachers to Vietnam to promote cultural understanding through language exchange. She added that Taiwan is one of the most friendly countries in the world, and expressed confidence that language exchange would further strengthen ties between Taiwan and Eswatini.
The meeting and banquet lasted about 90 minutes and took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere, with both hosts and guests enjoying the occasion to the fullest. After the luncheon, Speaker Mabuza and the delegation visited the chamber, bringing the event to a successful conclusion.
