Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Jialong said he was open to restoring relations with Honduras

Honduran Congressman Jorge Calix (left) and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (right) meet in Taipei on Tuesday. Photos provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

CNA reporter, citing CNA

Taiwan is open to all possible ties, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said during a meeting with a Honduran congressman in Taipei on Tuesday.

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Lin welcomed the visit of Jorge Calix, the whip of the Honduran opposition Liberal Party, and said during the meeting that the visit was a "concrete action to demonstrate his friendship and support for Taiwan," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday night.

The two countries will end formal diplomatic relations in 2023.

When Taiwan and Honduras were still diplomatic allies, their cooperation in many fields yielded fruitful results, Lin said.

Taiwan continues to cherish its long-lasting friendship with the Honduran people, the statement quoted him as saying.

The government would remain "pragmatic and open" to prospects for the relationship that could "create all kinds of possibilities," he said.

The statement quoted Calix as saying that he sees Taiwan as a model of freedom, democracy and economic development.

Calix said he would build on existing foundations to explore partnership opportunities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose when the Honduran politician would arrive in Taiwan or how long he would stay.

Calix has served as a member of the Honduran Congress since 2014. In early 2022, he briefly served as the controversial Speaker of Parliament.

He is the first Honduran politician to publicly visit Taiwan since Honduras and Taipei severed formal relations in March 2023 when Honduras switched to establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing, ending 82 years of formal diplomatic relations. The president of Honduras at the time was Chiomara Castro.

Honduran President Nasry Asfura, who took office in January, promised during his campaign to restore relations with Taipei.

Since then, Tegucigalpa nor Taipei have made no public statements about a possible restoration of diplomatic relations.

News source: Taipei Times

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