Officials from China and Honduras and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

China officially inaugurated its embassy in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras on Monday local time, less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras following Foreign Minister of Honduras Eduardo Enrique Reina visiting Beijing in March.

The national anthems of both China and Honduras were played at the ceremony site. Subsequently, Yu Bo, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina jointly unveiled the plaque for the embassy.

In his speech at the ceremony, Yu said that the one-China principle is a common consensus and a universally recognized norm of international relations. It is an overwhelming trend supported by international justice, the general trend, and public opinion. Honduras, with a broad strategic vision and firm political will, seized historical opportunities to make the important decision to acknowledge the one-China principle and became the 182nd country to establish diplomatic relations with China, which is highly appreciated by China.

On March 26, China and Honduras signed Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras. The two countries decided to mutually recognize and establish ambassador-level diplomatic relations from the day the communiqué was signed.

Less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides quickly connected exchanges and cooperation in various fields, constantly gathering consensus and strength to promote the development of bilateral relations, Yu noted.

Since the arrival of a preparation team from China in Honduran capital Tegucigalpa to build the Chinese embassy earlier in April, Chinese officials have held frequent and high-level meetings with multiple senior Honduran officials, fully advancing relevant preparations for the construction as well as promoting bilateral exchanges, Yu told the Global Times in a previous exclusive interview with the Global Times.

"During these meetings, the Honduran side acknowledged and promised to adhere to the one-China principle, said they will no longer have any official relations or conduct any official exchanges with Taiwan," Yu said.

Reina congratulated all concerned on the opening of the Chinese Embassy in Honduras. He stated that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China was an independent and autonomous decision by Honduras, which will help Honduras develop diversified international relations and join the world mainstream.

Honduras will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and hopes to jointly promote trade cooperation with China to improve Honduran infrastructure, assist in poverty alleviation, create employment opportunities, enhance people's well-being, and promote social prosperity, he said.

About 200 people, including the Second Vice President of Honduras Doris Gutiérrez, government officials and parliament representatives, foreign diplomatic envoys and international organization representatives in Honduras, and representatives of Chinese institutions and overseas Chinese in Honduras, attended the opening ceremony.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced on Monday that she will visit China from June 9 to 14 at the invitation of China.

"At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, I will visit with a special mission, with [Foreign Minister Enrique Reina] the People's Republic of China between June 9 and 14," Castro said in a Twitter post on Monday. "The refoundation of Honduras demands new political, scientific, technical, commercial and cultural horizons."

This will be the Honduran president's first visit to China since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

Global Times