Miscellaneous
Nepal expands diplomatic ties to 160 nations with Burundi pact
Nepal’s diplomatic outreach in the community of the world reached 160 countries on Wednesday after the Himalayan nation set up diplomatic relations with Burundi.Nepal’s diplomatic outreach in the community of the world reached 160 countries on Wednesday after the Himalayan nation set up diplomatic relations with Burundi.
The move is part of the Government of Nepal’s initiative to make the country’s bilateral diplomatic relations as universal as possible. Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations (UN) Nepal and Burundi, Durga Prasad Bhattarai and Albert Shingiro respectively, signed a Joint Communiqué establishing formal bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries in New York.
The two ambassadors also signed a joint letter informing the United Nations Secretary-General this development, stated a statement issued by Nepali mission in the UN.
On the occasion, the ambassadors exchanged greetings on behalf of their Heads of State and governments and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs. They discussed on how the diplomatic ties could become instrumental in further consolidating the foundation of close co-operative relations between the two countries at the UN and other multilateral forums.
They also exchanged views on various topics to further deepen and expand the scope of mutual co-operation on a bilateral basis in the future, including under the framework of south-south and trilateral co-operation.
Nepal and Burundi are active members in the groups of Least Developed Countries and Land-Locked Developing Countries, as well as in the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement.
The two countries are currently serving as members of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Earlier, Nepal and Burundi served together as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council in 1970, and as members of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2002 and 2003, representing the countries in the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions respectively.
Located in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, Burundi has a population of around 10.4 million, area of around 27,816 square kilometers, with Bujumbura as its capital. Its GDP per capita is $900.