China and Hong Kong Establish Diplomatic Relations Less than March to Achieve a "Good Open" What are the highlights of the historic visit of the President of Honduras?

Beijing, 6 Jun (ZXS) -- What are the highlights of the historic visit of the President of Honduras?

China News Agency reporters Guo Chaokai and Li Jingze

In the near and far, China's diplomacy has added a new pen. On the morning of June 6, Honduran President Castro arrived in Shanghai for his first visit to China. A Latin American expert interviewed by China News Agency pointed out that less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations, the heads of state of China and Hong Kong are about to hold a historic meeting, which will help the two sides eliminate external interference, enhance strategic mutual trust, and guide the development of bilateral relations. This visit once again proves that upholding the one-China principle is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times, and will be another heavy blow to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

Promote a good start and a good start in Sino-Hong Kong relations

On March 3, local time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Honduras issued a statement officially announcing the severance of "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities, and then Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks with Honduran Foreign Minister Reina in Beijing and signed a joint communiqué, China and Honduras formally established diplomatic relations, and the relationship between the two countries also opened a new chapter.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than two months ago, China and Hong Kong have firmly fulfilled their commitments to establish diplomatic relations, achieved a series of early gains, and achieved a "good start". Recently, from the visits of many delegations from Honduras to the official opening of the Chinese Embassy in Honduras, the frequent friendly interaction between the two countries has attracted global attention.

A few days ago, Castro posted on social platforms that she would visit China "with a special mission" and that "the reconstruction of Honduras requires new horizons in many fields such as politics, science, technology, business and culture." The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that this visit is the first state visit by a Honduran president to China, and the two heads of state will hold a historic meeting to jointly plan and lead the future development of China-Hong Kong relations.

According to Song Junying, director of the Latin American and Caribbean Institute of the China Institute of International Studies, after Castro was elected president of Honduras, he chose to sever the so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities and made an important decision to recognize the one-China principle with a broad strategic vision. From the establishment of diplomatic relations to the face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state, Zhonghong arranged this visit in a short period of time, highlighting the great importance and expectation of the two heads of state to the development of bilateral relations.

Wu Hongying, dean of the Institute of Regional and National Studies of Hubei University, said that China and Hong Kong have not established diplomatic relations for a long time, and the relationship between the two countries has "broken ground" and needs to further consolidate the foundation and enhance mutual trust. The face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state will help the two sides eliminate external interference, fully understand each other's core demands and major concerns, and jointly promote a good start in China-Hong Kong relations.

Cooperation and complementarity are expected to achieve more "good starts"

As an important country in Central America, Honduras is rich in water power and agricultural resources with the reputation of "Spirit Forest", and the leading industry of the national economy is agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery, rich in coffee, bananas, cotton and so on.

Before the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hong Kong, there were already non-governmental exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. Projects such as the archaeological cooperation of the Maya site of Zhonghong Kopan and the Patuka Three Hydropower Station are not only examples of cooperation between the two countries, but also bear witness to the friendship between the two peoples.

With the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, more cooperation has also been put on the agenda. Recently, many delegations from the Honduran media, economy and trade have visited China one after another to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples and seek cooperation opportunities at all levels. At present, a number of enterprises between the two sides have reached agreements on infrastructure cooperation and other aspects.

Experts interviewed believe that during Castro's visit to China, China and Hong Kong will build "four beams and eight pillars" of cooperation between the two countries at the level of heads of state, and the picture of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation may be carried out in an orderly manner, which is expected to achieve more "red flags".

Wu Hongying pointed out that there is broad space for Sino-Hong Kong cooperation. The economy of Honduras is dominated by agriculture, with a weak industrial base, and has long relied on the export of agricultural products such as coffee and bananas. Since the new crown epidemic, Honduran exports have weakened, and it is eager to strengthen cooperation with China and use the express train of China's economic development and broad market to achieve its own economic recovery and revitalization.

Recently, Rudolfo Pastor, Minister of Affairs of the Presidential Office of Honduras, said in an interview that China's proposed "Belt and Road" initiative meets the needs of Hong Kong. In this regard, Song Junying pointed out that at present, the circle of friends of China and Latin America to jointly build the "Belt and Road" has expanded to 21 countries, and Argentina and other Latin American countries have obtained tangible development benefits under the framework of the initiative, which has also brought enlightenment to Honduras. China-Hong Kong cooperation complements each other's advantages, and can promote the in-depth docking of China's "Belt and Road" initiative and Honduras' "National Reconstruction Plan" in the future.

Recognition and support for the one-China principle

Honduras is the 182nd country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with China. Since Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, nine countries have successively "severed diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities: Sao Tome and Principe, Panama, Dominica, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Regarding Honduras' choice to stand with 181 countries in the world, Wu Hongying said that Taiwan's so-called "country with diplomatic relations" is the "position" of the Taiwan authorities in seeking so-called "international space." As more and more countries choose to establish or resume diplomatic relations with China, the Taiwan authorities' path of seeking the so-called "international space" has been frustrated. The visit of the President of Honduras to China will be another heavy blow to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

The interviewed experts pointed out that it has only been more than two months since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hong Kong and the meeting between the two heads of state, and Honduras' active promotion of the development of bilateral relations has fully proved that the one-China principle is the universal consensus of the international community and the universally recognized norm governing international relations, and is the general international righteousness, the trend of the times, and the aspiration of the people.

Song Junying said: Under the demonstration effect of Honduras and other countries, the so-called "countries with diplomatic relations" that the Taiwan authorities have few remaining will finally recognize the general trend and stand on the right side of history in the future. The upcoming meeting between the heads of state of China and Hong Kong is expected to enhance Honduras' knowledge and understanding of China's development path and release more benefits for Honduras' development. The two sides can also take this visit as an opportunity to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation, enhance friendship, and promote the stability and long-term development of China-Hong Kong relations. (End)