Honduras, China eye 'early harvest' deal, to take effect on Sep. 1st
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A preliminary agreement between China and Honduras will take effect on September 1 as the two countries' ties have flourished in the past year.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, receives Honduran President Xiomara Castro at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on June 13, 2023. (AP)
Honduras President Xiomara Castro met with China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying on Tuesday to strengthen bilateral relations between the Latin American country and Beijing.
The country's Foreign Minister, Enrique Reina, told reporters that the Chinese diplomat "visited the country to advance several items," including a new trade agreement.
He revealed that an "early harvest" agreement will take effect on September 1, explaining that China will allow imports of Honduran shrimp, coffee, melons, and other products without charging exporters tariffs.
As soon as the deal is finalized, the new trade agreement will increase trade by an expected eight times when compared to rates before the establishment of ties between the two countries in 2023, Reina added.
In March 2023, Tegucigalpa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, concluding over 70 years of support for the Republic of China's (ROC) sovereignty over the People's Republic of China (PRC), and formalized relations with Beijing.
Today, only twelve countries globally recognize the ROC's claim to sovereignty over all Chinese territories, with seven located in Latin America and the Caribbean, underscoring the region's significant role in this geopolitical issue.
Honduras is one of the most recent countries to change its stance on China, a move of particular significance given its location within what the US considers to be its backyard.
Read more: Taipei accuses China of constricting 'Taiwan's diplomatic space'
In June last year, the Honduran president visited Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, solidifying the newly established diplomatic ties.
The visit also saw the signing of the first-ever bilateral agreements between the two countries, including 17 documents. The documents include issues related to the Belt and Road Initiative, economy, trade, quality inspection, agriculture, science and technology, and culture and education.
"China is ready to develop friendly relations with Honduras, support Honduras’ economic and social development, and be a good friend and partner of Honduras with mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and common development, bringing more tangible results to the greater benefit of the two peoples," Xi told Castro during that meeting.
Read more: China, Honduras warm ties grow, free trade agreement in the making
