PH forges diplomatic relations with Niue

President Marcos has signed a joint communiqué with visiting Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi which formally established diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the South Pacific island-country.

“We are optimistic that stronger cooperation between our countries will lead to a better future for our people,” Mr. Marcos said on his Facebook page after the signing of the communiqué on Tuesday at Malacañang.

Both leaders expressed their desire to develop friendly relations and cooperation on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, nonaggression, noninterference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

The two countries also agreed to exchange representatives as soon as possible and to provide them with the help they need to perform their functions. According to a statement of the secretary of the government of Niue, which is also posted on Facebook, Tagelagi thanked Mr. Marcos and his administration for the warm welcome and generous hospitality. The premier also told the President that Filipinos in Niue were involved in key social and economic development sectors aside from being valued members of the communities there.

Niue, which is only slightly bigger than Camiguin province with a population of around 1,600, is an associated state of New Zealand. Its head of state is the British monarch, represented by the New Zealand governor general.

While New Zealand handles Niue’s defense and foreign relations, the island-country’s government has been conducting diplomacy on its own in recent years and has established formal ties with more than 20 nations.

Although not a member of the United Nations, Niue is a member of several UN specialized agencies, such as Unesco and the World Health Organization. It is also a signatory of UN conventions on biodiversity, law of the sea and climate change.