Photo: Xinhua

China and Kiribati formally resumed diplomatic relations on Saturday (Beijing time) after the Pacific island state announced its decision to cut "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan last week.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau signed a joint communique at the office of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN in New York on the establishment of diplomatic relations.
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China and Kiribati agree to develop friendly relations on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence, the communique said.  

Kiribati government acknowledges one-China principle, and the island of Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. Kiribati government will immediately cut “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan, according to the communique.

"Kiribati government undertakes that it shall no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan. China appreciates the position of Kiribati government," the communique said.

Kiribati, located in the Central Pacific Ocean, announced its decision to cut “diplomatic ties” with the island of Taiwan on September 20, less than one week after the Solomon Islands cut its “diplomatic relations” with Taiwan.

The Solomon Islands formally established ties with China on September 21 in Beijing.

Analysts said it will be an irreversible trend that more countries will sever “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan and acknowledge the one-China principle. There are possibilities that some other countries will establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in the near future.

On Wednesday, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau at the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

During their meeting, Wang said China highly appreciated Kiribati's statement last week, which acknowledged the one-China principle and declared its severance of the so-called "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan authorities and restoration of diplomatic relations with China, Xinhua reported.

Mamau, also Kiribati's foreign minister, said at the meeting that the government's decision to "break off diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and re-establish diplomatic relations with China is its own choice based on the interests of Kiribati and its people, read the same Xinhua report.

He also said Kiribati is increasingly aware that the brotherhood and friendship with China is important for Kiribati's national development.

Kiribati originally established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1980, but the relationship was disrupted after it formed "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan in 2003.