Xi Talks Up Honduras Relations As Country Shifts Diplo Links From Taiwan

(MNI) London - Chinese state media reporting comments from President Xi Jinping on the occasion of his meeting with Honduran President Xiomara Castro in Beijing. This is the first meeting between the two leaders since Honduras swapped its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

• Xi: China will unswervingly develop bilateral relations, firmly support economic and social development of Honduras....Establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras beneficial in the long run.
• The Honduran gov't officially shifted its diplomatic relations in March, with Castro's trip coinciding with the opening of the Honduran embassy in Beijing, as well as a request for Honduras to join the Beijing-based New Development Bank (NDB).
• Honduras changing its allegiance leaves Taiwan holding diplomatic relations with just 12 UN member states. Taiwan has levied allegations of China using 'dollar diplomacy' with promises of investment and funding spurring the change, an accusation denied by Beijing.
• The move comes as a further diplomatic blow to the US, with just a handful of LatAm nations (historically part of the US' sphere of influence) now recognising Taiwan rather than China.