China willing to start free trade talks with Honduras

China is ready to start talks on a free trade agreement with Honduras “as soon as possible,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday during the Central American country’s first visit since they established diplomatic ties in March.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro is on a six-day official visit to China. She launched diplomatic relations with Beijing after cutting ties with rival Taiwan in a bid to win more investment and jobs. The country is also seeking support from China to ease its debt burden.

China will actively promote Honduran products to enter the Chinese market, Xi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV.

Chinese customs said on Monday it had approved the import of whiteleg shrimp from Honduras.

Xi said China will unswervingly develop friendly relations between the two nations and firmly support Honduras’ economic and social development.

China also encourages Chinese companies to participate in Honduran projects in areas including energy, infrastructure and telecommunications, CCTV said, citing a joint statement.

The Honduran side is willing to provide policy support and facilitation, CCTV reported.

The Chinese leader also stressed that both sides should deepen political mutual trust and uphold the “one China” principle.

“The one-China principle is the main premise and political foundation for establishing sincere diplomatic relations and developing bilateral relations,” Xi said.

When Honduras ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan, the island’s foreign minister accused it of demanding exorbitant sums before being lured by Beijing.

China claims that democratically governed Taiwan is its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position that Taipei strongly rejects. China demands that the countries with which it has ties recognize its position.

The Honduran Foreign Ministry said at the time that it recognized the PRC as the sole legitimate government representing all of China and that Taiwan was an “inseparable part of Chinese territory”.

The United States is watching with concern as China expands its presence in its backyard by eliminating Taiwan’s Central American allies, and has repeatedly warned countries not to believe China’s aid promises.

Xi said China supports Honduras’ “independent choice of development path according to its national conditions” and opposes any outside interference in the Central American country’s internal affairs.

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