Honduran students who have arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport pose for a group photo, holding national flags of Honduras and China, on July 4, 2023. Photo: CCTV

 

The first batch of a total of 26 Honduran students has transferred from the island of Taiwan to embark their studies in the Chinese mainland on Tuesday, which is believed to contribute to friendly exchanges between the two countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

After the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras in March, China agreed to accept all Honduran students from the island of Taiwan to study in the mainland. About three months, the first batch of the Honduran students have arrived in Beijing, Tianjin and Xi'an from Taiwan island on Tuesday to start their new study life, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told the Global Times at a regular news conference on Wednesday, extending a warm welcome to them.

The Honduran students are looking forward to their study life in the mainland and said they will work hard to study their majors, learn more about Chinese culture and contribute to the development and progress of Honduras and friendly exchanges between the two countries, Wang said.

A diplomat working at the Honduran embassy in China who welcomed the students at the airport said the students are very excited to be here, and they come with high expectations of completing their academic dreams, while spreading Honduran culture and learning Chinese culture as well.

According to China Central Television (CCTV), the Honduran students are admitted to a number of key universities in China, including the University of International Business and Economics, Beihang University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Tianjin University, and Northwestern Polytechnic University.

About 170 Honduran students were studying in universities in the island of Taiwan before the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras in March, after which the DPP authorities threatened to cancel scholarships for these students and asked them all to leave Taiwan island at the end of the semester, CCTV reported.

China has been very concerned about the Honduran students studying in Taiwan island, and is willing to accept all of them as long as they are interested in transferring their studies to the mainland, which can be a warm new home for these Honduran students, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on the second day after China and Honduras established diplomatic relations.

Wang on Wednesday emphasized that China welcomes more Honduran students to study in the mainland and is willing to expand exchanges and cooperation in humanities with Honduras, so as to pave the road of friendship and build a bridge between the two peoples.

Bilateral practical cooperation between China and Honduras is deepening. The two countries on Tuesday announced the official launch of the negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), three months after the two countries established diplomatic ties in March and less than one month after Honduran president made a historical visit to China. 

It is hoped that the FTA negotiations can be concluded within a year, Melvin Redondo, deputy minister of economic development of Honduras said in June at the First China-Honduras High-Level Entrepreneur Exchange Conference.

Global Times