Salvador Moncada, the newly appointed ambassador of Honduras to China who arrived in China on September 29, handed over a copy of his credentials to Hong Lei, director of the Protocol Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on Saturday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Honduras’ establishment of diplomatic relations with China is a trend and in today’s world, distancing oneself from China means being isolated, said Moncada during an interview with Chinese media upon his arrival in Beijing.
Moncada stated that developing countries should strive for common interests rather than participate in geopolitical struggles in a multipolar world. He further emphasized that Central America is not the “backyard” of the US, and nurturing relations with China can yield many benefits for regional countries.
Salvador Moncada, the first Honduran ambassador to China, arrived in Beijing on the morning of September 29, the Honduran Embassy in China confirmed to the Global Times on the same day, saying that the ambassador’s appointment would further deepen the friendship between the two countries.
Honduras officially inaugurated its embassy in Beijing on June 11 three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Central American country severed its so-called “diplomatic” relations with the island of Taiwan on March 25.
“The one-China principle has been recognized by the United Nations (UN) and enjoys recognition from virtually all countries in the world, including the US. Therefore, establishing diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China is a legitimate and correct decision,” Moncada told media.
China and Honduras earlier announced the official launch of the negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on July 4, after the two countries established diplomatic ties in March, demonstrating that bilateral practical cooperation is deepening.
Prior to the FTA negotiations, the two countries on June 12 signed a cooperation document on jointly building the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
In mid-June, Honduran whiteleg shrimps, fresh bananas and unroasted coffee beans were allowed to enter the Chinese market, the General Administration of Customs of China (GAC) announced in several notices.
Bilateral trade between China and Honduras stood at $740.7 million from January to May in 2023, up 14.9 percent year-on-year. China’s imports from Honduras totaled $39.9 million, up 193.9 percent year-on-year, according to statistics from GAC.
The promotion of practical cooperation between China and Honduras will set an example and push forward the FTA negotiation process between China and other Latin American countries, Wu Hongying, director of the Institute of Regional and International Studies at Hubei University, earlier told the Global Times.
The ambassador also noted that Central American nations are strengthening their interactions and cooperation with China and he believes that the government of Guatemala’s newly elected president Bernardo Arevalo is also highly likely to develop diplomatic relations with China.
China is a very successful country and a vital role model for the countries of the Global South. In addition to Honduras, Central American countries are also looking forward to strengthening relations with China in the fields of culture, politics, trade, diplomacy, science and technology, Moncada noted.
Honduran President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento announced through her social media account that Moncada would be the country’s first ambassador to China in June. Earlier this month, Yu Bo, the first Chinese ambassador to Honduras, presented his credentials to President Castro.
(Global Times)
