BEIJING: China and Honduras renewed their commitment on Tuesday to mutual support and coopera-tion on the first anniversary of their diplomatic ties, with officials and analysts lauding the develop-ment of the relationship as a testament to robust partnerships with China under the one-China princi-ple.
President Xi Jinping and Honduran President Xiomara Castro exchanged congratulations, with the Chi-nese president stressing that the establishment of diplomatic ties was “a correct political decision made in compliance with the historical trend” and that it “serves the fundamental interests of the two nations”.
Xi noted that over the past year, the two sides have upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development, ensuring that bilateral relations started to grow from a high level.
He also expressed his high appreciation for Honduras’ adherence to the one-China principle.
According to the General Administration of Customs, trade between China and Honduras grew 21.1 percent year-on-year to $1.91 billion in 2023, with exports from Honduras to China up 177.6 percent.
The two nations signed a $276 million economic and technical cooperation agreement last week to help boost the Central American nation’s education infrastructure, according to a social media post re-leased by the Honduran government.
Castro said that China, with a multimillennial civilization and a major role to play in the course of histo-ry, is a role model for the world and an important partner of Honduras.
She lauded Beijing’s dedication to innovative development, its participation in efforts to find solutions to global problems and strenuous assistance with worldwide poverty reduction efforts over the past year.
Honduras firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to develop ties with China that fea-ture independence and mutual respect, she said, expressing her wish that the two peoples will enjoy a long-lasting friendship.
Castro made a state visit to China in June last year, three months after the establishment of bilateral ties.
Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said at a news briefing on Tuesday that the 17 coopera-tion agreements signed during Castro’s visit to China laid an important foundation for the high-level start of bilateral relations.
The two nations have firmly supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and carried out effective cooperation in sectors such as the economy and trade, agriculture, science and technolo-gy, education and tourism, Lin said. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
