10th June 2023 – (Tegucigalpa) Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina has expressed confidence that Honduran President Xiomara Castro’s visit to China will strengthen bilateral relations and lead to greater cooperation between the two countries. Castro arrived in Shanghai on Friday and will be in China until 14th June at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In an interview with Xinhua ahead of the visit, Reina expressed optimism about the meeting between the two leaders and predicted that it would produce fruitful results and provide more development opportunities for their respective peoples.
Reina noted that since establishing diplomatic relations on March 26, Honduras and China have made significant progress in a series of economic and trade cooperation. He was pleased with the opening of the Chinese Embassy in Honduras on June 5, which he described as “very good news” that will ensure the solid development of bilateral relations and help the two countries to further strengthen cooperation and better serve their peoples.
Reina emphasized that the promotion of multilateralism in the international community is a common principle that both countries adhere to, adding that cooperation between the two sides will give a strong impetus to the development of multilateralism in the international diplomatic arena.
The foreign minister also praised China’s Belt and Road Initiative, saying that it has created significant space for cooperation and brought countries around the world closer together. He expressed his belief that the initiative will help Honduras find new opportunities for development, investment, and infrastructure construction that will benefit not only the Honduran people but also the world.
Reina also underscored Honduras’ willingness to strengthen cultural cooperation with China, citing the important projects such as the Confucius Institute. He expressed his hope that Hondurans will soon have the opportunity to learn Chinese through these initiatives.
Furthermore, Reina noted that Honduras is facing many structural problems in its current development and that Chinese modernization can provide expertise for Honduran reforms, promoting education, trade, and economic and social development.
The foreign minister’s statements demonstrate the positive impact of the growing relationship between Honduras and China. With the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of the Chinese Embassy in Honduras, the two countries are poised to deepen their economic and cultural ties, and to work together to promote multilateralism and cooperation on the international stage.
Castro’s visit to China is a significant step towards realising this vision, and her discussions with President Xi will undoubtedly pave the way for even closer cooperation between the two nations. As such, the visit marks the beginning of a new era in the bilateral relations between Honduras and China, one that promises to bring significant benefits to both countries and their peoples.