Sep 15, Kathmandu - Nepal and the Federated States of Micronesia officially established diplomatic relations today. With this development, Nepal now maintains diplomatic ties with a total of 185 countries worldwide.

Nepal's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Micronesia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Jeem S. Lippwe, signed a joint statement announcing the establishment of relations, the Nepalese mission reported.

During the ceremony, the two ambassadors exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest and discussed ways to collaborate at national and international levels.

Micronesia, an island nation located in the western Pacific Ocean, comprises over 600 islands. It gained independence on November 3, 1986, and became a member of the United Nations on September 17, 1991. Covering an area of 701 square kilometers, Micronesia has an estimated population of around 100,000 people. Both Nepal and Micronesia are members of the G77 China group.