Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) concluded a trip to Eswatini, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, on Saturday by pledging a donation to support local rhinoceros conservation efforts.
Lin returned to Taiwan after a five-day visit to the African kingdom that began on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released yesterday.
The visit, primarily made to celebrate King Mswati III’s 57th birthday, with Lin serving as President William Lai’s (賴清德) special envoy, ended with Lin pledging a US$55,000 donation to Big Game Parks, an Eswatini-based nonprofit trust that manages four wildlife parks in the landlocked country, the ministry said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via CNA
The money would help conserve rhino habitats in the African kingdom, the ministry added.
Lin also named a newborn rhinoceros “Formosa” during his visit, in one of the parks managed by Big Game Parks, to symbolize the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, the ministry said.
“Formosa” is a former Western name for Taiwan, given by Portuguese explorers who called the island “Ilha Formosa,” meaning “beautiful island,” when they first sighted it in the 16th century.
The pledged donation was witnessed by Eswatini Minister of Foreign Affairs Pholile Shakantu and Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, the ministry added.
Taiwan established formal diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Eswatini on Sept. 6, 1968, when Eswatini gained independence from the UK.
Eswatini — formerly known as Swaziland — is Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
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