The Republic of Fiji and the Kingdom of Bhutan formalised diplomatic relations at a ceremony in New York over the weekend.
Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson and his Bhutan counterpart Lhatu Wangchuk, signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The communiqué expresses the desire of countries to promote and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two Asia-Pacific nations.
The communiqué affirms that this relationship will be guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and other norms of international law, particularly those pertaining to the mutual respect for independence, sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other States.
The ceremony was attended by officials of the Permanent Missions of Bhutan and Fiji to the United Nations.
Following the signing of the communiqué, the national representatives held discussions on areas of common interest to their two countries, including Fiji’s support at the United Nations for Bhutan’s work in promoting enhanced quality of life through its Gross National Happiness initiative.