Xi meets Honduran president

Xi Jinping holds talks with President Xiomara Castro of Honduras

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 12 (Reporter Zheng Mingda) – On the afternoon of June 12, President Xi Jinping held talks with Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi Jinping pointed out that President Castro is the first Honduran president to pay a state visit to China, saying her visit opened a new chapter in the history of China-Honduras relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras in March this year, the relations between the two countries have started well, developed rapidly, and show vigor and broad prospects. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras will benefit both parties in the long run. China will unswervingly develop China-Honduras friendly relations, firmly support the economic and social development of Honduras, and is willing to be a good friend and good partner with Honduras with mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. Xi said he was willing to work with his Honduran counterpart to lead and promote the in-depth development of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, turn the beautiful vision of cooperation between the two countries into tangible results, and bring more benefits to the two peoples. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Honduras relations will surely go far and steadily towards a bright future.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the two sides should stick to the right direction and deepen political mutual trust. The one-China principle is the primary premise and political basis for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras and the development of bilateral relations. It is believed that Honduras will fully implement it. China firmly supports Honduras’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and independence, promote development, and improve people’s livelihood, supports Honduras’s independent choice of a development path that suits its own national conditions, and opposes any external forces interfering in Honduras’ internal affairs. It is willing to share experience in poverty eradication, social governance, and punishment of corruption, and encourage governments, legislative bodies, political parties, and localities to conduct all-round exchanges and cooperation. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of strategies, build the four beams and eight pillars of the cooperation mechanism between the two countries, and take the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” as the guide to promote common development. China will actively promote Honduras’s products to enter the Chinese market as soon as possible, and is willing to start the process of negotiating a free-trade agreement with Honduras as soon as possible. The two sides should promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges and consolidate the public opinion foundation of China-Honduras friendship. China is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with Honduras to jointly safeguard the international order and the basic norms of international relations, strengthen solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice. China is willing to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries including Honduras to promote the construction of the China-CELAC Forum and the overall cooperation between China and Latin America.

Castro said that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China is a historic choice made by the Honduran government and will be recorded in the annals of history. Honduras firmly supports and abides by the one-China principle, and firmly supports the Chinese government’s efforts to realize national reunification. Under the strong and powerful leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has made great development achievements that Honduras deeply admires. The joint construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative, the global development initiative, the global security initiative, and the global civilization initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping will help build a more peaceful and secure world that meets the common expectations of people all over the world. Honduras speaks highly of it and will actively participate. Honduras firmly believes that developing friendly and cooperative relations with China will help Honduras obtain more and better development opportunities. The rapid progress of cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than two months ago has given Honduras full confidence in the future. The Honduras side looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in the fields of trade, investment, infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, science and technology, and intensifying people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Honduras is willing to actively promote the development of the relationship between CELAC and China. It is believed that Honduras-China friendship will surely stand the test of time and continue to gain new achievements.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, quality inspection, economy and trade, agriculture, science and technology, culture and education.

The two sides issued the “Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras.”

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Castro at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People.

When Castro arrived, the guard of honor lined up to salute. The two heads of state stepped onto the reviewing stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Honduras, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Castro inspected the guard of honor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and watched the parade.

That night, Xi Jinping held a welcome banquet for Castro in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi, Qin Gang and others participated in the above activities.