Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong and Nauru President Rene Harris, on behalf of the two governments, signed Sunday in Hong Kong a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The communique says China and Nauru "have decided upon mutual recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level as from 21 July 2002."

Nauru has decided to sever its "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan as of July 21 of 2002, according to the communique, pledging that it "shall not have official relations of any form with Taiwan."

It says Nauru recognizes that "there is but one China in the world", that "the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China" and that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory".

Nauru has decided to abrogate all "inter-state", "inter-governmental" and other official agreements signed with Taiwan and ensure mutual close-down of "embassies" or "consulates" and other official agencies and withdrawal of "embassy" or "consular" and other official staff within a month, the communique says.

China supports the efforts made by Nauru to safeguard its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and develop its national economy, according to the communique.

The two also agree to develop friendly relations between the two countries based on the principle of peaceful coexistence, the communique says, adding that they will provide necessary assistance for the establishment and performance of functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals.

"The normalization of relations between China and Nauru conforms to the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and Nauruan people, and will open up broad prospects for furthering friendly and cooperative ties of mutual benefit between the two," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan said.

Both China and Nauru are developing countries and they share identical points in many fields, Kong said.

China is willing to make concerted efforts with Nauru to establish and develop long-term, steady, sincere, friendly, all-around and cooperative relations with Nauru, Kong said.

Nauru is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of 24 square km with a population of some 10,000. It established "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan in 1985.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2002)