New York, March 18 (QNA) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Republic of Fiji signed last night a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadors level. The statement was signed for the UAE by its permanent representative to the United Nations Ambassador Ahmad Abdurrahman al-Jarmen, and for Fiji by its permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Peter Thomson. The statement underlined the two countries keenness to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific areas, in accordance with the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and norms of international law, and to respect the principles of equality among nations and national sovereignty. (QNA)