Embassy to enhance China-Honduras relations

The newly opened Chinese embassy in Honduras will serve as a bridge between the two countries for deeper political mutual trust, more practical cooperation and closer friendship between the two peoples, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.

The embassy inauguration ceremony, which was held in the Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa on Monday, was attended by nearly 200 people including Honduran Second Vice-President Doris Gutierrez, other Honduran government officials and parliamentary representatives, and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras.

The embassy's opening came less than three months after Honduras severed "diplomatic relations" with China's Taiwan region and established diplomatic relations with China.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Honduras have been delivering on their commitments and working together to get bilateral relations off to a strong start on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. The two sides have already achieved some "early harvests", Wang said during a daily news conference.

"This fully shows that to stand for the one-China principle is the right thing to do, which has the overwhelming support of the international community and represents the prevailing trend of the world," he said. "The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples."

Honduras is working intensively to set up its embassy in China, and China is ready to "vigorously support" and facilitate that effort, Wang said.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced on Twitter on Monday that she will make a sixday visit to China, starting on Friday. It will be her first visit to China since the two nations established diplomatic relations.

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina, who along with Yu Bo, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, inaugurated the embassy, said that Honduras firmly adheres to the one-China principle.

The country looks forward to jointly promoting trade cooperation with China to improve infrastructure, contribute to the well-being of the Honduran people and foster social prosperity, Reina added.

US claims dismissed

In another development, Wang dismissed the White House's allegations that China's response to the United States military's activities in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea shows "growing aggressiveness" and could lead to "an error in judgment".

"The truth is the US has been sending warships and military aircraft halfway around the world to China's doorstep, and engaging in close-in reconnaissance and show of military muscle near China's territorial sea and airspace," Wang said.

This is not about "freedom of navigation", but "hegemony of navigation" and distinct military provocation, the spokesman said. "And such hegemonic practice is the root cause of security risks on the sea and in the air."

China respects the right of navigation and overflight that all countries are entitled to under international law, but firmly opposes acts that undermine China's sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight, Wang said.

"The Chinese military responded to the situation in accordance with laws and regulations. These actions are completely professional, lawful and justified," he added.