Honduras on Monday signed a cooperation document to officially join China’s mega infrastructure development project — the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Ties with China are “Historic Choice”
During an official visit to Beijing, Honduran President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento said that establishing diplomatic relations with China, instead of the self-governing island of Taiwan, “is a historic choice made by the Honduran government and will be recorded in history.”
She added that her government looked forward to strengthening cooperation with China in the fields of “trade, investment, infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, science and technology, and cultural exchanges.”
Xi responded that the two countries must share experience in “poverty eradication, social governance, and punishment of corruption.” They must also “encourage governments, legislative bodies, political parties, and localities to conduct all-round exchanges and cooperation.”
Xi Highly Comments on Honduran President's Contribution to Diplomatic Ties
— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) June 12, 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in talks with visiting Honduran President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento in Beijing on Monday, highly commented on the great contribution Castro and her husband, former… pic.twitter.com/fTpyASnqFV
BRI
Castro called the BRI a global development and security initiative, which “will help build a more peaceful and secure world that meets the common expectations of people.”
Song Junying, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Department at the China Institute of International Studies, told Chinese state mouthpiece Global Times that joining the BRI “could meet the needs of Honduras’ development in areas such as infrastructure and industrial capacity.”
In addition to the BRI, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of several other documents in fields such as economy and trade, agriculture, science and technology, and culture and education.
Severance of Ties with Taiwan
In March, Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which China claims to be part of its own territory, after the self-governing island refused to double its financial aid package.
Taiwan and Honduras enjoyed diplomatic ties for more than eight decades, during which, it was among the only 14 countries that officially maintained relations with Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory to be reunified by force, if necessary.