King of Eswatini Visits Belgrade: Cooperation with Serbia to Focus on Trade, Agriculture, Tourism

King Mswati III of Eswatini said in Belgrade, on Oct. 19, that his country wanted to develop bilateral ties with Serbia and expand cooperation in trade, information and communication technologies, tourism and security.

“We are urging our officials to be dedicated and prepared, and to make sure that the vision that we discussed today becomes a reality,” Kings Mswati III said to reporters after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The two heads of state also attended a ceremony during which a number of memoranda on cooperation were signed for developing bilateral ties in trade and investments, tourism, university education, telecommunications, postal services and artificial intelligence.

“We are inspired by a shared ambition and new paths of cooperation that will serve our nations. We are optimistic about the new agreements, which should pave the way to deeper cooperation and enable our governments and nations to reap the benefits of increased engagement in trade, investments, technological progress and cultural exchange,” Mswati III said to the press.

The king will stay in Serbia until Oct. 22. Political relations between Serbia and Eswatini were underdeveloped until a few years ago, and over the past three the two countries’ officials have met several times. Eswatini recognized Kosovo’s independence in April 2010, and in January 2023 President Vucic stated that several states had decided to derecognize it, including Eswatini. The government in Pristina denied Vucic’s claim.