BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Honduran President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento made a historic state visit to China less than three months after the two countries forged diplomatic ties.
Prior to her talks on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xi held a welcome ceremony for her at the square outside the Great Hall of the People, where the Honduran president, delighted, made a hand heart to a group of frisky children greeting her.
Over the past weeks, both sides have been proactive and practical to deliver on their diplomatic commitments with a sense of urgency. The bilateral relationship has got off to a good and speedy start and enjoys great dynamism and promise.
In March, Honduras signed with China a joint communique on establishing diplomatic ties, becoming the latest in a string of Central American countries to sever so-called "diplomatic ties" with China's Taiwan region. In early June, China inaugurated its embassy in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, and Honduras has also opened its embassy in Beijing.
The historic visit is of special significance. It opens a new chapter in the annals of the China-Honduras relationship, as both sides continue to deepen their political mutual trust and further tap potential for their highly complementary economies.
The fast growing bilateral relationship is expected to expand the scale of bilateral trade, increase local employment, and enhance people's welfare in Honduras's largely agricultural economy.
Customs statistics indicated that in the first four months of this year, China's trade with Honduras logged a total value of 3.893 billion yuan (some 543.4 million U.S. dollars), up 22.9 percent year on year, with imports increasing by 229.5 percent.
During his talks with Castro on Monday, Xi said China will promote the early introduction of Honduran specialty products to the Chinese market, and is willing to start the negotiation process for a free trade agreement at an early date.
On the same day, Chinese customs announced the approval of the import of Whiteleg shrimp from Honduras. Coming up, more are expected to hit the Chinese market, including bananas, melons, coffee, cigars and beef, from this major coffee bean grower and cigar exporter in Central America.
Now local farmers and businessmen are eyeing greater market opportunities and upgraded processing techniques with advanced machinery from China. They are also upbeat about the sixth China International Import Expo scheduled for November in Shanghai.
Notably, the two sides also signed a document on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a major milestone for boosting bilateral cooperation. They also agreed to cooperate in areas such as quality inspection, trade, agriculture, technology, culture and education.
Both countries have also voiced staunch support for each other regarding their respective core interests. Honduras will act faithfully on the one-China principle, the primary prerequisite and political foundation for the establishment of diplomatic ties and the development of bilateral relations. China pledged firm support for Honduras in choosing its own development path suited to its national conditions.
Meanwhile, Honduras shares with China such common values of humanity as peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and honors the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Experts believe their ties will also exert a radial effect on the continuous deepening of China-Latin America relations in the new era and have an important bearing on the promotion of democracy in international relations.
Their mutual trust also comes from ever increasing understanding between both peoples. For many Hondurans, China is not just a new friend from afar, but a friend quite different from how the biased Western media have portrayed. Now with direct ties, many say they get to see and experience a real, fascinating China in person.
Last month, a delegation comprising around 30 media professionals from Honduran radios, televisions, newspapers and social media platforms visited Shanghai, Guizhou, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and other Chinese localities. And during her state visit this week, Castro said Honduras will send young students to Shanghai for study.
Pledging to be good friends and partners that enjoy mutual respect, equality, mutual benefits and common development, China and Honduras will reap dividends from the sound and steady progress in their bilateral ties. ■
