SUVA, March 26 -- Fiji and Bulgaria have established diplomatic relations, the Fijian government announced Thursday.

At the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nationsin New York earlier this week, Peter Thomson, Fiji's permanent representative to the UN and his Bulgarian counterpart Stephan Tafrov signed a joint communique establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations, according to Fiji's Department of Information.

"The communique conveys the agreement of both States for their diplomatic relations to be guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, particularly on equality among States, respect for national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, and respect for international treaties," the department said in a statement.

"The communique expresses the desire of both States to promote and strengthen bonds of friendship and cooperation between their two countries in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields," added the statement.

Following the formalization ceremony, Thomson and Tafrov held talks on areas of common interest between their two countries and potential areas of cooperation at the UN.

With the conclusion of the ceremony, Thomson said, Fiji has formalized diplomatic relations with all UN member states belonging to the Eastern European group and the Western European group.

In line with the Look North policy, Fiji has been expanding its diplomatic ties across the globe. So far, the Pacific island country has established diplomatic relations with over 170 countries in the world, statistics show.