Xi emphasizes common development in talks with Honduras' Castro

China stands ready to forge a good friendship and partnership with Honduras featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development, President Xi Jinping said on Monday in talks with visiting Honduran President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento.

Xi assured Castro that China is committed to developing friendly relations with Honduras and firmly supports its socioeconomic development.

Xi added he is willing to work with the Honduran president to steer bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective to translate the good vision of the countries' cooperation into tangible results and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.

The two countries established diplomatic relations in March. Castro is in Beijing for a six-day State visit to China which started Friday, the first by any Honduran president.

Xi said since the establishment of diplomatic ties, relations between China and Honduras have gotten off to a good and speedy start and enjoyed great dynamism and broad prospects.

Last week, the Chinese embassy in Honduras was officially inaugurated. On Sunday, Honduras opened its embassy in Beijing.