Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Honduran President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento

On the afternoon of June 12, 2023, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento who is on a state visit to China.

Xi Jinping noted that President Xiomara Castro is the first Honduran president to pay a state visit to China, and her visit opens a new chapter in the annals of the China-Honduras relationship. Since China and Honduras established diplomatic relations in March this year, the bilateral relationship has got off to a good and speedy start and enjoys great dynamism and promise. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras will benefit future generations. China will unswervingly develop friendly relations with Honduras and firmly support Honduras' economic and social development. China is ready to forge a good friendship and partnership with Honduras featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and common development. Xi Jinping expressed his readiness to work with President Xiomara Castro from a strategic and long-term perspective to steer the bilateral relationship toward greater development and to turn the vision of cooperation into tangible results to the greater benefit of the two peoples. He expressed confidence that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Honduras relations will make steady and sustained progress and embrace an even brighter future.

Xi Jinping stressed that the two sides should keep to the right direction and deepen political mutual trust. Noting that the one-China principle is the foremost prerequisite and political foundation for the establishment of China-Honduras diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral relations, Xi Jinping expressed confidence that Honduras will implement this principle completely and thoroughly. China firmly supports Honduras' efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and independence, promote development, and improve people's well-being. China supports Honduras in independently choosing a development path suited to its national conditions, and opposes any external forces interfering in Honduras' internal affairs. China is ready to work with Honduras to increase exchanges on governance experience, share experience in poverty alleviation, social governance, and anti-corruption efforts, and encourage all-round exchanges and cooperation between the governments, legislatures and political parties, including those at the sub-national level. The two sides need to foster greater synergy between their strategies, put in place pillars underpinning the two countries' cooperation mechanisms, and advance Belt and Road cooperation as a leading way to promote common development. China will actively work for the early entry of Honduras' specialty products into the Chinese market, and stands ready to launch free trade agreement negotiations with Honduras as soon as possible. The two sides also need to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges to cement public support for the China-Honduras friendship. China is ready to work with Honduras to strengthen multilateral coordination, jointly safeguard international order and the basic norms governing international relations, strengthen solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, defend the common interests of developing countries, and uphold international fairness and justice. China is ready to work with Honduras and other Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries to promote the development of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the overall cooperation between China and LAC countries.

Xiomara Castro said that establishing diplomatic relations with China is a historic decision made by the government of Honduras, and it will definitely go down in history. Honduras firmly supports and abides by the one-China principle, and firmly backs China's efforts to realize national reunification. Honduras deeply admires China's great development achievements under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, all proposed by President Xi Jinping, will contribute to building a more peaceful and secure world that meets the common expectations of people around the world. Honduras highly values these initiatives and will actively participate in them. She expressed Honduras' conviction that developing friendly and cooperative relations with China will help Honduras obtain more and better development opportunities. The rapid development of bilateral cooperation over the two months since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries has given Honduras great confidence in the future. Honduras expects to work with China to strengthen cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, and science and technology, and step up people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Honduras is ready to actively promote the development of relations between CELAC and China. She expressed confidence that the Honduras-China friendship will withstand the test of time and continuously make new achievements.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as Belt and Road cooperation, quality inspection, economy and trade, agriculture, science and technology, and culture and education.

The two sides issued the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Xiomara Castro at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People.

Upon Xiomara Castro's arrival, honor guards lined up in salutation. As the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Honduras, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square. Xiomara Castro reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past in the company of Xi Jinping.

On the evening of the same day, Xi Jinping held a welcome banquet for Xiomara Castro at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi and Qin Gang, among others, were present at the above events.