Taipei- Taiwan Vice President Vincent Siew Thursday led a delegation to the island's African ally Swaziland for a four-day visit to cement ties, in the face of China's growing influence in that part of world.

"I will do all I can to promote and consolidate bilateral ties between our two countries," said Siew at Taiwan's international airport before departure late in the evening.

Siew was appointed by Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) as his special envoy to take part in the African nation's 40th anniversary celebrations and the 40th birthday of King Mswati III.

Delegation members included Taiwan's foreign minister and the heads of the Council of Agriculture, and Department of Health. A group of business leaders also followed Siew to the African visit to explore investment opportunities.

Siew will transit through Singapore and South Africa on his way to and back from Swaziland but he has no plans for public meetings with officials from the two countries, which recognize Beijing instead of Taipei diplomatically, according to Vice Foreign Minister Lin Yung-le.

Taiwan maintains formal ties with just 23 countries, mostly Latin American, African and Pacific island states.

Siew's visit came amid reports that five of Taiwan's Latin American allies had decided against supporting the island in its bid to apply to join affiliated bodies of the United Nations.

Taiwan's foreign ministry confirmed Thursday the allies - Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Panama and Guatemala - have remained lukewarm over supporting Taipei's bid.

Instead of applying for UN membership like its predecessor government, Taiwan, under China-friendly Ma administration, has sought to join affiliated bodies, like the World Health Organisation, of the United Nations instead. It has rallied support from some of its 23 diplomatic allies to raise a motion for discussion of the island's bid during the General Assembly in New York later this month. (dpa)