Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will hold bilateral talks with King Mswati III of Eswatini in Taipei on October 9, 2026.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te held bilateral talks with King Mswati III of Eswatini in Taipei on October 9, 2026, and the two sides witnessed the signing of a criminal justice assistance agreement. Both countries stated they will continue to deepen diplomatic relations and promote cooperation in industry and people's livelihoods. The images are based on the actual meeting photos released by the Presidential Office.

Taipei — King Mswati III of Eswatini visited Taiwan and held bilateral talks with President Lai Ching-te, with the two leaders also witnessing the signing of a mutual legal assistance agreement in criminal matters. The visit underscored both sides' willingness to deepen diplomatic and legal cooperation, as well as economic ties.

According to a Reuters report, Mswati III arrived in Taipei on Oct. 9 and reaffirmed Eswatini's commitment to maintaining and strengthening its long-standing friendship with Taiwan. Eswatini is one of the few countries that still maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The Presidential Office said in a statement on the bilateral talks issued Oct. 9 that Lai and Mswati III held discussions and jointly witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Lai said Taiwan hoped to continue deepening its diplomatic relationship with Eswatini and promote industrial development through cooperation to improve the well-being of people in both countries.

Lai also said Taiwan and Eswatini could strengthen cooperation in industrial development and a range of livelihood-related areas. Priorities identified by Taiwan include healthcare, education, vocational training, digital technology, infrastructure and energy.

According to Focus Taiwan, the English-language service of the Central News Agency, the two sides also discussed opportunities for Taiwanese companies to invest in Eswatini. The government hopes industrial cooperation and investment will expand bilateral economic ties and help Taiwanese businesses explore opportunities in African markets.

The mutual legal assistance agreement in criminal matters is intended to provide an institutional framework for law enforcement and judicial cooperation between the two sides. The specific scope and implementation arrangements will depend on the agreement's provisions and subsequent follow-up.

The king also reiterated Eswatini's support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other multilateral international organizations. For Taiwan, maintaining high-level exchanges and deepening substantive cooperation with formal diplomatic allies is part of its broader international diplomacy.

The visit also took place against the backdrop of cross-Strait diplomatic competition. China maintains that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, opposes Taiwan's participation in international affairs under the name of a state, and continues to object to other countries developing formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Taiwan's government, meanwhile, maintains that Taiwan has the right to maintain diplomatic and substantive cooperation with other countries.

Still, the long-term benefits of the bilateral relationship will depend on implementation of the agreement, businesses' willingness to invest and the results of practical cooperation. Key areas to watch will be how the mutual legal assistance agreement is carried out and whether the two sides can advance concrete projects in industry, education, healthcare and energy.