Politicians and lawmakers from 11 African countries welcomed President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) visit to Eswatini, which begins today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, hailing it as a diplomatic success.
Tsai is to leave for Eswatini today on a four-day trip to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the independence of Taiwan’s African ally.
More than 80 cross-party parliamentarians from 11 African countries — South Africa, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia and Somaliland — issued a joint statement on behalf of the Formosa Club members in Africa to welcome Tsai’s visit, the ministry said in a press release.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
The statement acknowledged the outcome brought by the Africa Program, which Tsai launched after her previous trip to Eswatini in 2018, the ministry said.
Taiwan demonstrated its value and importance to Africa’s development through the program, which has fostered closer ties between the nation and Africa in agriculture, education, information and communications technology, energy, trade and tourism, the statement said.
The Formosa Club in Africa expressed its hope to continue bolstering cooperation with Taiwan, “a beacon and a success story of democracy in the world,” it said.
John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa’s opposition party Democratic Alliance, sent a letter to welcome Tsai on behalf of the party and all freedom-loving African friends, the ministry said.
Taiwan’s dedication to safeguarding the universal values of democracy, freedom, rule of law and human rights regardless of China’s ever-expanding threat and oppression “is admirable,” the ministry quoted Steenhuisen as saying.
Tsai’s visit to Africa shows Taiwan’s clear commitment to expanding cooperation with Africa in areas such as trade and cultural development, Steenhuisen said.
The Democratic Alliance is a firm friend of Taiwan, he said, adding that he hoped Tsai would visit South Africa someday.
Narend Singh, chief whip and treasurer-general of South Africa’s Inkatha Freedom Party, also welcomed Tsai on behalf of his party, the ministry said.
Former Botswana president Ian Khama paid tribute to Tsai’s commitment to Taiwan’s freedom and democracy in a letter, it said.
Khama called on democratic countries around the world to stand together in solidarity to safeguard democracy and address common challenges, adding that he believed Tsai’s visit would further bolster relations between Africa and Taiwan, the ministry said.
The warm welcome and support from Taiwan’s friends in Africa showed that the nation’s freedom, democracy and open economic system earned their recognition, the ministry said.
It is also an approval of the “Taiwan Model” — cooperating with African countries through pragmatic diplomacy and mutual assistance, it added.
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