Honduras President Xiomara Castro delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Honduran Air Force at the Hernan Acosta Air Base in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, April 21, 2023. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
TEGUCIGALPA 鈥� Honduran President Xiomara Castro is set to travel this week to China, her foreign minister said on Monday, the leftist leader鈥檚 first visit to the Asian giant after establishing formal diplomatic relations with it in March.
Castro鈥檚 trip marks the latest step in the two nations鈥� new relationship, after her government ditched ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing.
Foreign Minister Enrique Reina told reporters at an event inaugurating China鈥檚 embassy in Tegucigalpa that Castro will travel on Tuesday this week.
Later on Monday, Castro鈥檚 press office tweeted that the official visit would take place from this coming Friday to Wednesday of next week.
Castro鈥檚 trip to the world鈥檚 second-biggest economy stemmed from an invitation from her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Honduran state media outlet Poder Popular wrote in story published earlier on Monday.
Honduras and China launched diplomatic relations after Castro cut ties with Taiwan in a bid for more investment and jobs from the much larger Chinese economy.
Last month, Reina announced that both sides will 鈥渟oon鈥� begin trade talks, with coffee set to be the first Honduran export to the massive Chinese consumer market.
The minister added on Monday that several 鈥渃ooperation agreements鈥� would be signed, but did not specify further.
Castro鈥檚 government is also seeking deals with China to lighten the nation鈥檚 debt burden.