The president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, met today in Shanghai with the head of the New Development Bank (NBD), the former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, and formally requested the adhesion of her country to that financial institution of the BRICS group that make up Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
“Castro visited Rousseff in Shanghai, who formally received the application for Honduras to join the body. In the next few days a government Technical Commission will travel to start the process,” the Honduran government reported on its Twitter account.
The president arrived in China yesterday to begin a six-day state visit, described as “historic” by the Honduran authorities, three months after the reestablishment of diplomatic relations and after the Central American country broke its ties with Taiwan, which it had maintained since 1941.
Under the “one China” principle, no country can maintain simultaneous official diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan, the island that Beijing considers part of its territory and vows to seize one day.
On March 26, the Castro administration severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established relations with Beijing, thus acknowledging that principle.
Within this framework, the Honduran president announced last Friday the appointment of scientist Salvador Moncada as Honduran ambassador to China.
Three days later, the Asian giant opened its Embassy in Tegucigalpa, which is also a topic on Castro’s agenda on his trip to China, “to strengthen this relationship,” according to Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina, who is part of the entourage. who traveled
“This visit was expected by the Honduran people. Recognizing the ‘One China’ principle and establishing diplomatic relations with China and cooperating with China can bring development opportunities for Honduras,” Castro was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.
He added that “the Honduran people admire China’s development achievements, especially the country’s efforts in alleviating poverty,” adding that “fighting for the welfare of the people is the common goal of Honduras and China.”
“I believe that the friendly ties between Honduras and China will be maintained. We must strengthen them through cooperation between the two peoples,” he said.
Castro expressed his hope that Honduras achieves prosperity and development like Shanghai, and assured that the Central American country will strengthen cooperation with that municipality.
He also said that Honduras will actively participate in the 6th China International Import Expo, to be held in Shanghai in November, and will send young people there to study.
From Shanghai, the Honduran delegation will travel to Beijing, where Castro will meet with his counterpart, President Xi Jinping.
Honduras is the fifth Central American country since 2007 to break ties with Taipei: Guatemala and Belize still have ties to the island, and worldwide only 13 countries officially recognize Taiwan.
Source: Ambito
