The Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Relations between China and Honduras formalized the ties between the two nations on March 26. | Photo: EFE

Tegucigalpa, July 6 (RHC)-- Honduras and China have begun to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), after both countries established diplomatic relations in March.

The Secretary of State in the Office of Economic Development, Fredis Cerrato, and the Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Wang Wentao, began FTA negotiations.  Local Chinese media reported that Wang Wentao assured that the exchanges will improve "the quality and level of bilateral trade, and strengthen investments in various fields."

The Secretary of State in the Office of Economic Development, Abg. Fredis Cerrato, and the Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Wang Wentao, launched the negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between China and Honduras.

The head of Honduran diplomacy also stated that the establishment of ties would open "a range of possibilities" in the areas of trade, infrastructure, finance, energy, technology, as well as science, education and culture, among others.

Likewise, Reina had predicted that coffee would be the first product that the Central American country would export to the Asian nation; although the export of shrimp, bananas, melon, cigars and beef is also foreseen.

Last March 26th, both nations announced the establishment of diplomatic relations, after Honduras made official the rupture of the ties it had maintained with Taiwan since 1941 and which were replicated in areas such as military, educational and economic cooperation.

The rupture reduced to only 13 the countries with which the country considered by China as an island in rebellion maintains official diplomatic relations. Honduras, in addition, becomes the ninth nation, fifth Latin American, that since 2016 has cut ties with Taiwan to establish ties with China.