NEW YORK, United States: Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Senator Pholile Shakantu has signed a diplomatic declaration aimed at strengthening relations between Eswatini and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.
The signing took place on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Shakantu signed the declaration with H.E. Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, Grand Counsellor of the Order of Malta, who also serves as Grand Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs. 
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilisation.
Through the declaration, Eswatini and the Order of Malta have expressed a shared desire to develop and strengthen cooperation and friendship for their mutual benefit.
The document provides a basis for advancing reciprocal understanding, increasing cooperation and developing fruitful relations between the two parties.
It also reflects the shared interest of the Kingdom and the Order of Malta in strengthening engagement and identifying areas in which both sides can benefit from closer cooperation.
Shakantu said international partnerships remain an important component of Eswatini’s foreign policy and diplomatic engagement.
According to the minister, the signing demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to constructive international cooperation and the development of partnerships that promote mutual understanding and shared objectives.
“We welcome this development as the Kingdom of Eswatini as it represents an important milestone in our relations with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta,” said Shakantu.
