Vietnam and the Republic of Kiribati officially established diplomatic relations on September 15 as a move to reinforce and develop their mutually beneficial relations and cooperation.

The "Joint Communiqué of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Republic of Kiribati" was signed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), Le Hoai Trung and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Republic of Kiribati, Makurita Baaro, on behalf of the Vietnamese and Kiribati Governments respectively, at the office of Vietnam Mission to the UN in New York.

Kiribati, in the south-west Pacific Ocean, became the 185th country that Vietnam has established relations with.

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Kiribati were established in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961, and the two sides agreed to exchange diplomatic representatives at ambassadorial level. Signed documents will be sent to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to be circulated as an official document of the UN and to inform the UN member states.

The establishment of diplomatic ties will create a solid foundation for Vietnam and Kiribati to further promote their multifaceted cooperation while meeting the common aspirations of the two peoples.

Additionally, the move also highlights Vietnam’s foreign policy of openness, diversification and multilateralism.-VNA