[Central News Agency] The Deputy Foreign Minister of Honduras confirmed that he has repeatedly asked Taiwan for US$2 billion for foreign debt restructuring, local investment in factories and assistance in the construction of hospitals, but Taiwan has not received a positive response.

According to a report by the local media Proceso in Honduras, Hongguo Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio Garcia said that after about half a year of negotiations with Taiwan, Taiwan could not give a positive response, but the Hongguo government must give the people an answer, so it is seeking more Favorable scheme.

Please read on...

García mentioned that the three requests to Taiwan are not to ask Taiwan to send money to Honduras, but to hope that Taiwan will repay Honduras' high-interest debt, and Honduras will return it to Taiwan at a low interest rate. Hongguo could save millions of dollars.

In response to Taiwan's proposal to build a factory in Honduras, Deputy Foreign Minister Hong Guo said that the control of Taiwan's response rests with each company.

The last item is to assist the local construction of a hospital, and there is a consensus with Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

García said that because Taiwan's request for US$2 billion in financial aid did not receive a positive response, Honduras President Chowmara.

Xiomara Castro decided to instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations with China.

García believes that Honduras should be on par with the world. Most countries, including the United States, have diplomatic relations with China, the "factory of the world."

Garcia explained that these three requests are made to Taiwan because the Hongguo government must show results with funds to the people who believe in them, and the government's responsibility is to first seek assistance from Taiwan, a country that is friendly to Hongguo. Hongguo will always be grateful to Taiwan for its unremitting efforts help, but sometimes you have to consider the opportunities a country has, so the president makes such a decision.

(Editor: Xu Ruicheng) 1120325