Leaders hail new chapter in China, Honduras ties
Xi welcomes Castro to Beijing, signs multiple agreements including BRI
China and Honduras have vowed to forge a partnership featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development as the heads of state of both countries witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation agreements, including joint construction of the Belt and Road, in Beijing on June 12.
During their historic meeting in Beijing, President Xi Jinping and visiting Honduran President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento had an in-depth exchange of views on the prospects for bilateral ties and on international and regional issues of common concern, and they reached a broad consensus, according to a joint statement released after the meeting.
Xi held a grand welcoming ceremony for Castro before their talks at the Great Hall of the People. The ceremony included a review of the People’s Liberation Army Honor Guard by the two leaders and the firing of a 21-gun salute in Tian’anmen Square.
Castro was in Beijing on a sixday state visit to China that started on June 9. The visit came after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in March.
On June 5, the Chinese embassy in Honduras was officially inaugurated. On June 11, Honduras opened its embassy in Beijing.
Both sides agreed that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras based on the one-China principle opens a new chapter in bilateral relations, the statement said.
During their talks, Xi said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, relations between China and Honduras have gotten off to a good and speedy start and enjoy great dynamism and broad prospects.
He stressed that the one-China principle is the primary premise and political foundation for the establishment and development of bilateral relations between China and Honduras. He expressed his hope that Honduras will faithfully implement this principle.
Castro said that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China is a historic decision made by the Honduran government that will go down in history. She assured Xi that Honduras would firmly support and abide by the one-China principle and support the efforts of the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.
On promoting bilateral ties, Xi said China firmly supports Honduras in upholding its national sovereignty and independence, promoting development and improving its people’s well-being.
China supports Honduras in choosing a development path suited to its national conditions, and opposes any external forces interfering in Honduras’ internal affairs, he said.
Xi underlined the need for both countries to strengthen synergies between their development strategies and promote common development through the joint building of the Belt and Road. China is willing to start negotiations with Honduras on a free-trade agreement as soon as possible, he said.
While calling for enhancing people-to-people exchanges to consolidate the China-Honduras friendship, Xi said that China is willing to work with Honduras and other Latin American and Caribbean countries to promote comprehensive cooperation.
Castro hailed China’s achievements under the strong leadership of Xi, saying that the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, all put forward by Xi, will help build a more peaceful and secure world.
Honduras highly appreciates these initiatives and will actively participate in them, she said, adding that Honduras believes that developing friendly and cooperative relations with China will help it gain more and better development opportunities.
The rapid progress of cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations has made Honduras confident about the future, Castro said.
Premier Li Qiang also called for bolstering pragmatic cooperation between China and Honduras during his meeting with Castro on June 13.