President Xiomara Castro’s decision also broke ties with the island of Taiwan and ratified the One-China principle.

Beijing applauded Tegucigalpa’s announcement and described it as a correct measure ‘in accordance with the general trend of historic development and the progress of times.’

In Nicaragua, the news was seen as an opening to opportunities, since China’s medium- and long-term projects could have a great impact and bring changes to Honduras, which has to seek the people’s benefit and, as such, strengthen fields like trade, investment and more cooperation in other areas such as culture, Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina said.

Honduran congressmen recently explained that with such relations, the country would open a market of 40 million to one of 1.5 billion for its exports.

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