Relations with Beijing 'right choice' for Honduras

The high-quality white shrimp from Honduras making its way into the Chinese market holds significant historical importance for both countries, marking yet another milestone in their practical cooperation that has enhanced the well-being of the two peoples, Honduran Ambassador to China Salvador Enrique Moncada said.

It also proved that the Central American nation has made the right choice in forging diplomatic relations with China, he added. The two nations established diplomatic ties in March 2023 and finalized a substantial agreement on an early harvest arrangement for free trade agreement in February, which took effect on Sept 1.

According to the ambassador, white shrimp is a premium specialty product and a major export commodity for Honduras. In less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic ties, Honduras gained approval to export white shrimp to China.

The first batch of white shrimps arrived at the port of Tianjin by the end of September, enjoying zero tariffs and efficient customs clearance procedures. A trial sale was conducted later in Beijing which received positive responses. On Sunday, the shrimps were officially introduced to the Chinese market for the first time.

"We have an open mind about the people and the market, and China has been incredibly welcoming and incredibly positive to us," Moncada said.

In addition to white shrimp, Honduras plans to introduce other products such as coffee, tobacco and fruits to the second-largest economy in the world, he said.

Great potential

Moncada sees great potential for Honduran coffee products in China's mature coffee market, expressing hope for enhanced bilateral commercial interactions over time.

The trade volume between China and Honduras in 2023 reached $1.91 billion with a year-on-year increase of 21.1 percent, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

The ambassador also expressed strong confidence in the Chinese economy, believing it will continue to grow. And it is encouraging, especially for countries in the Global South which are at the moment developing very rapidly, he said.

"Honduras takes pride in its diplomatic relations with China which goes with the historical trend," he said while affirming the country's commitment to the one-China principle.

"China is an example that we have to look at very carefully and with very positive eyes," he said, while commending the country for its efforts in lifting a huge number of people out of poverty.

"Every day I'm in China, I see things that would be important examples for our country which is making efforts to develop itself," he said, adding that Honduras will not copy exactly what China did but will study and learn from some wise measures China has taken.

In June last year, China and Honduras signed a cooperation document on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to enhance policy coordination and deepen cooperation across areas.

As Honduras develops green energy, including hydropower and solar power, Moncada believes the BRI would play a "crucial" role in helping the country achieve energy transformation by drawing on China's experience in green development.

He also indicated Honduras' willingness to open up its tourism sector to promote people-to-people exchanges.

"Honduras is a tropical country in Central America with beautiful seaside, rich cultural heritage and food. We hope that over the years, we will be able to create conditions for more and more Chinese people to come to Honduras."