China and Honduras have every reason to forge close ties. Recognized as a major developing country with a strong sense of responsibility, China has been dedicated to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and safeguarding their common interests and international fairness and justice.

During their talks, Xi said that China is willing to work with Honduras and other Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries to promote cooperation on the China-CELAC Forum and the overall cooperation between China and Latin America.

From Costa Rica, Panama, and Dominica, to El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras ... Over the years, China has established or restored diplomatic relations with many countries in Central America and the Caribbean region. By making more friends, China is joining Latin American countries to write a new chapter on building a China-Latin America community with a shared future.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

In the past over two months, China and Honduras have been delivering on their commitments and working together with a sense of urgency to bring bilateral relations to a fast track based on principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development.

During the meeting with Castro, Xi mentioned not long ago, a delegation of Honduran business leaders visited China, noting that many of them said the trip has transformed their perception of China.

Among members of the delegations are many coffee merchants, as Honduras is an important coffee exporter. Diplomatic ties with China will bring opportunities for them to explore the vast Chinese market.

"Taking advantage of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Honduran high-quality products represented by coffee will reach more customers from the vast Chinese market," said Zelaya, a Honduran coffee merchant who only gave his first name.

"China is a big country with leading science and technology," said Mario, another coffee merchant. "The advanced machinery made in China will promote the development and upgrading of the Honduran coffee industry, and active cooperation between two countries in various fields will continue to benefit the Honduran people."

According to the General Administration of Customs of China, in the first four months of this year, China's total export-import volume with Honduras reached 3.893 billion yuan (544 million U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 22.9 percent, of which imports increased 229.5 percent.

The fruitful results brought by the two countries' practical cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic ties testify to the huge development potential of bilateral relations.

On Friday, Castro said in Shanghai that Honduras will actively participate in the sixth China International Import Expo to be held in November; On Sunday, China and Honduras held a high-level business meeting, the first of its kind since the two countries established diplomatic relations; On Monday, the two countries pledged in a joint statement to negotiate a free trade agreement, and encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in Honduras's development by investing in projects of various fields.

During the visit, China and Honduras also signed a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation, making Honduras an official participating country of the Belt and Road Initiative. Latin America now has 22 countries that have joined Belt and Road cooperation with China.

The vigorous vitality and broad prospect of China-Honduras practical cooperation is a manifestation of China and Latin American countries working together to promote practical cooperation and achieve common development.

According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, the total trade volume between China and Latin America and the Caribbean countries reached a new high of 485.79 billion dollars in 2022, exceeding 450 billion dollars for the second consecutive year and marking an increase of more than 7 percent over 2021.