Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has sent Independence Day greetings to the government and people of Vanuatu.

The Republic of Vanuatu, a Pacific island country located in the South Pacific Ocean, celebrates its 39th Independence Day this year.

In a message sent to his counterpart Ralph Regenvanu, the foreign minister conveyed wishes to the government and people of Vanuatu, from the government and people of Maldives.

He further sent his best wishes “for further progress of the people of the Republic of Vanuatu.”

Vanuatu gained independence on 30th July 1980, and the day is celebrated to remember when the former colony of New Hebrides ended its period of rule by Britain and France and became the free nation of Vanuatu. Since independence, the country has become a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the Pacific Islands Forum.