"I listened to President Xi Jinping's speech at close range, and I was filled with admiration when I thought of his efforts to promote the common development of China and the world." Honduran journalist Juan Ortiz said this was his reporting trip to China last year The most unforgettable experience of the 3rd "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum. He devoted a full page to reporting on President Xi Jinping’s important speech, especially China’s eight actions to support high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Central American country of Honduras is known as the "Mountain Country" and has ancient Mayan civilization and diverse cultures. On March 26, 2023, China and Honduras established diplomatic relations. In June of the same year, the two heads of state held a historic meeting in Beijing. Under the guidance of heads of state diplomacy, bilateral relations have achieved a high-level start, and economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges have shown great vitality and broad prospects.
On March 20, dancers performed folk dances in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.
It’s spring time again. "Work together to write a better future for China-Hong Kong relations" and "wish the friendship between the two peoples to last forever" - on the first anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hong Kong, the two heads of state exchanged congratulatory messages, spoke highly of bilateral relations, and placed high hopes on further deepening bilateral cooperation. .
"There are too many Chinese stories to write about"
"There are many high-rise buildings, the commercial streets are bustling and lively, electronic payments are convenient and efficient, and rural areas have also gained new vitality due to the revitalization policies." When talking about what he saw and felt in China last year, Ortiz, director of the news department of Honduras' "People's Power Weekly" said Opened up the conversation. He lamented to reporters that there are simply “too many topics to write about” about China.
In June last year, when President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Honduran President Castro, he mentioned the successful visit of the Honduran delegation of journalists and entrepreneurs to China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hong Kong, Honduran media delegations have visited China in three batches, visiting Shanghai, Guizhou, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other places. Many reporters have the same feelings as Ortiz. On-the-spot interviews have changed and enriched their understanding of China. Their reports have also made many Honduran readers feel that China, thousands of miles apart, is no longer far away.
Ortiz spent two and a half months in China, marveling at the achievements of China's modernization drive. "The reality of China is completely different from the distorted reports in the Western media," he said. "If you want to understand China, you must go to China and see so many wonderful places!"
During the third "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum, Ortiz introduced important projects such as China-Europe freight trains, Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, and Greece's Piraeus Port in four full pages, giving readers a detailed introduction to the The results of cooperation in building the “Belt and Road Initiative”. "The 'Belt and Road' initiative and the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping have also brought new development opportunities to Latin America," he said.
In his congratulatory message on the 26th, President Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations one year ago, the two sides have upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and common development and promoted bilateral relations to a high level. President Castro said that over the past year, we have witnessed China's commitment to innovative development, jointly discussing solutions to global problems, and greatly contributing to global poverty reduction.
Actors perform at a reception celebrating the first anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hong Kong in Tegucigalpa on March 22.
Kimbeli Espinosa, director of Honduras’ TV station No. 8, visited China twice and was deeply impressed by China’s people-centered development concept. “President Xi Jinping has always had sincere feelings for the people and values their well-being.” She believes that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hong Kong and China is a historic decision for Honduras. China will bring impetus and experience for the development of Honduras, and "the world will see a new Honduras."
"Bringing back optimism and hope from China"
On the road from Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, to the province of El Paraiso, the magenta campanula flowers are in full bloom.
After nearly 80 years, the Santos Alberto Gaitan family has developed a small coffee workshop into the largest local coffee company. In the corporate laboratory, the walls are covered with bright murals depicting the hard work of coffee cultivation and the joy of harvesting.
On March 23, at Gaitan Coffee Shop, staff demonstrated coffee.
Coffee is one of the main agricultural products and important export products of the province of El Paraíso. A large amount of coffee is grown in the local mountainous areas, and about 25,000 families are engaged in coffee cultivation. Provincial MP John Milton Garcia said that coffee is directly related to the local economy and people's livelihood.
"The equipment we imported from China has helped workers improve their work efficiency." Gaitan said, and more importantly, "the Chinese market is huge and extremely attractive." "Going to China" has become the family's favorite discussion this year. topic. He has been following the progress of the free trade agreement negotiations between the two countries.
In June last year, the two heads of state held talks in Beijing and reached important consensus. A month later, the two countries launched negotiations on a China-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement. In March this year, the fourth round of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement was held in Beijing. The two sides conducted comprehensive and in-depth consultations in multiple fields and made positive progress.
Last year, some Honduran coffee companies participated in the 6th China International Import Expo in Shanghai and signed "big orders" with Chinese companies, which made Gaitan envious. Currently, his company is accelerating the research and production of new products, hoping to catch up with this year's CIIE. "We need to learn more about Chinese culture and consumers and seize the unlimited opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries." Gaitan told reporters.
On November 6, 2023, visitors inquired about coffee beans and other exhibit information at the Honduras booth at the National Exhibition of the Sixth China International Import Expo.
"This mutually beneficial cooperation embodies the concept that China has always advocated." said Rodolfo Pastor, Minister of Affairs of the Presidential Palace of Honduras. After returning from his visit to China last year, his mobile phone case has been affixed with the image of the CIIE mascot "Jinbao", "I brought optimism and hope back from China."
Fredis Serrato, Minister of Economic Development of Hong Kong, said that the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has achieved fruitful results. He hopes that high-quality products such as melons and cigars from Honduras can also enter the Chinese market in the future. At the same time, he welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in Hong Kong and create More jobs.
"Our hearts are always connected"
Honduran artist Hermes Estrada’s biggest dream is to “go to China to learn Chinese music, dance and art.”
Estrada, 42, has visited China. In his eyes, "China is the most beautiful country in the world", and Honduras and China "are friends and brothers." The cultures of the two countries have many resonances, such as advocating the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. What he is looking forward to most now is being invited to visit China with his art troupe in September this year to participate in the Shanghai Tourism Festival. He and his colleagues will bring wonderful Latin music and dance performances to the Chinese audience.
In June 2023, during his talks with President Castro, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the two sides should promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges and consolidate the public opinion foundation for China-Hong Kong friendship.
On June 8, 2023, pottery artifacts were photographed in the warehouse of the International Archaeological Team at the Mayan ruins of Copan, Honduras.
Honduras has launched its first Chinese language and Chinese painting courses, young Honduran students have begun studying abroad in China, and China-Hong Kong joint archaeological cooperation at the Copán Mayan ruins has ushered in new opportunities...China and Honduras have actively implemented the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and established various cultural exchanges. bridge to promote the people-to-people ties between the two countries.
51-year-old Hector Pinto lives in San Pedro Sula, a city in northwestern Honduras. He developed a strong interest in Chinese culture because of his work experience in a local Chinese-funded enterprise. He said: "My love for Chinese martial arts has caught up with my love for football." In 2021, with the support of his family, Pinto began to learn Chinese at a training institution. At that time, the training class only had one language proficiency level and only 10 students.
On January 29, people attended the opening ceremony of Chinese language and Chinese painting courses in Tegucigalpa.
According to Pinto, the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hong Kong and China has stimulated the enthusiasm of the people of the two countries to understand each other's culture, further driving the "Chinese fever" in Honduras. At the training institution where he studied, the number of new students has increased significantly. In order to meet more diverse learning needs, the language proficiency level has been increased to level 8. Pinto also made more Chinese friends during his studies, and they often communicated with each other through social software. "Although we are thousands of miles apart, our hearts are always connected." He looks forward to taking his wife and daughter to see "amazing China" with their own eyes soon.
Those who have the same ambitions should not let the mountains and seas be far away. The two countries will take the first anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to consolidate mutual support, expand all-round cooperation, and jointly write a better future for China-Hong Kong relations.
Planning: Ni Siyi, Jiang Yan, Zou Shengwen
Producer: Wei Jianhua, Han Mo, Zhao Kai
Coordinator: Yan Junyan, Sun Hao, Yan Liang
Reporters: Yan Liang, Meng Yifei, Li Zijian, Wang Yachen, Zhang Yuan, Wu Hao, Li Mengxin, Kang Wenjun
Editor: Zhang Dailei, Chen Shan, Dong Longjiang, Lu Yu, Shen Haoyang
Photography: Li Mengxin and Jin Liwang
Produced by Xinhua News Agency International Department