Kathmandu, Aug 28: Nepal and Saint Lucia established formal bilateral diplomatic relations in New York on Tuesday. With this, Nepal’s diplomatic relations have reached to 167 countries.
Amrit Bahadur Rai, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, and Ambassador Cosmos Richardson, Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the United Nations signed a Joint Communiqué to this effect in a brief ceremony held at the Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to the United Nations Tuesday morning.
On the occasion, the two Ambassadors expressed their confidence that the formal diplomatic relations will prove instrumental in bringing the two countries and peoples closer at bilateral and multilateral forums. They also discussed measures to further deepen and expand the relations.
The two Ambassadors also jointly informed António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, about the establishment of Nepal-Saint Lucia diplomatic relations, according to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations.
A small island country in the Caribbean Sea, with its capital at Castries, Saint Lucia covers a land area of 617 sq. km and has an estimated population of 1,70,000. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy which accounts for about 65% of the total GDP.
Many tourists visit the island country because of its volcanic origin and its location in the path of the northeastern trade winds and warm tropical maritime climate.
Chief exports are bananas, cardboard cartons, clothing, coconut products and electronic goods.
Saint Lucia became member of the United Nations on 18 September 1979 following its independence from Great Britain. Both Nepal and Saint Lucia are members of the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement.
