The Embassy of Nauru in the People's Republic of China was officially inaugurated in Beijing on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the development of bilateral relations.
Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
Nauru resumed its diplomatic ties with China on the basis of the one-China principle on Jan 24, 2024, becoming the 183rd country having diplomatic relations with China.
The opening of Nauru's embassy has set yet another bridge for connectivity between the two countries.
"Countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equals and important members of the integrated community. We also welcome and look forward to working together to advance President Xi Jinping's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and to progress joint efforts to address shared challenges for the mutual benefit of our peoples," said Aingimea.
Ma congratulated Nauru on the embassy's opening and pledged China's support for its operation. He highlighted the progress in bilateral exchanges over the past year.
"We are glad to see that in just one year since the resumption of diplomatic ties, President David Adeang, Speaker of Nauru's Parliament Marcus Stephen, and Nauru's entire cabinet have all paid visits to China. Steady progress has been made in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Practice has proved and will continue to prove that China is a trustworthy brother and partner of the people of Nauru," Ma said.
The reopening ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Nauru was held on Jan 29, 2024, following the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Embassy of Nauru officially inaugurated in Beijing
An official of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has condemned Israel for demolishing the buildings within the UN agency's East Jerusalem compound.
Israeli authorities stormed the Sheikh Jarrah compound of UNRWA last week. After a full day of demolition, all buildings inside the compound had been flattened or severely damaged. Israeli flags were seen raised at the site, while the United Nations (UN) flag had been taken down.
Olaf Becker, director of UNRWA affairs in Jordan, said the Israeli action gravely violates international law and poses challenges to the operations of UN agencies.
Expressing his deep concerns over Israel's unilateral action, Becker said UNRWA will continue its work in the region and make every effort to ensure that basic public services for Palestinian refugees are not interrupted.
"It's obviously in contravention to international law. It's in contravention to Israel's obligations under the UN Charter as well. While Sheikh Jarrah is highly symbolic, and of course it really impedes our ability for our leadership to operate and coordinate activities. We have offices around the West Bank as well, and we are still operational in those places," Becker said.
Following the demolition, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the compound "does not enjoy any immunity", and that the action complied with the law.
In response, Becker said Israel's denial of the privileges and immunity of UN agencies would directly undermine the legal foundation of the UN system, warning long-term impacts on UN agencies' ability to independently and effectively fulfill their duties within the framework of international law in the Middle East and globally, and worrying consequences for the UN and the multilateral system.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim not recognized internationally, while the UN regards East Jerusalem as occupied territory. Israeli officials have long accused UNRWA of employing Hamas members, which the agency denies.
In October 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning UNRWA, which provides desperately-needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and other areas, from operating in areas under Israeli jurisdiction, and prohibiting Israeli authorities from maintaining contact or cooperation with the agency, a move UNRWA and international bodies say violates international law. Israel then amended the law in December 2025 to ban electricity or water to UNRWA facilities.
Last month, Israeli authorities seized UNRWA's offices in East Jerusalem.
UNRWA official condemns Israeli demolition of agency’s buildings in East Jerusalem
