President Mukherjee extends Independence Day greetings to Kiribati

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday extended greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of Kiribati on the eve of their Independence Day.

"On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I have great pleasure in extending to you warm greetings and felicitations on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Kiribati," President Mukherjee said in a message to his Kiribati counterpart, Anote Tong.

President Mukherjee further said that India and Kiribati enjoy close bonds of friendship and co-operation.

"We both share a desire to deepen our engagement in order to meet our common challenges. I am confident that the relationship between our two countries will continue to strengthen in the years to come to the mutual benefit of our peoples. Please accept, Excellency, my best wishes for your good health and personal well-being and for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Kiribati," he added.