KATHMANDU: Nepal and Suriname have signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations at UN headquarters in New York on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Issuing a statement, the Ministry said, "The number of countries with which Nepal maintains diplomatic ties has now reached 163."

Nirmal Raj Kafle, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations and Kitty Sweeb, Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Suriname to the United Nations signed the Joint Communique, as stated in the statement.

Suriname, a unicameral presidential republic, lies in northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana.