Taiwan's government has awarded visiting Honduran foreign minister Lisandro Rosales the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, in recognition of his support for Taiwan and contribution to deepening ties between the two nations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a press release Sunday.
Rosales, who is accompanying outgoing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez on his three-day visit to Taiwan from Nov. 12-14, received the accolade from Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui (???) on Saturday, the ministry said.
In the press release, Yui was cited as saying that Honduras is a solid ally of Taiwan in Central America, and that Taiwan is grateful for Rosales' support at international events.
He described Rosales as one of the most influential persons in furthering bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields during the 80 years of their diplomatic relationship.
Yui also congratulated Honduras for its recent election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, taking one of the seats for the Latin American and Caribbean region.
According to Rosales, the positive results of the cooperation between Taiwan and Honduras are a clear sign of the Central American nation's appreciation of the long-term support and friendship from Taiwan.
He said that Hernandez's visit to Taiwan amid cross-Taiwan Strait tensions demonstrates Honduras' support for Taiwan.
The Honduran foreign minister also said he admired the diligence and discipline of Taiwanese people, praising the cooperation between citizens and the government in Taiwan in combating the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, according to the MOFA statement.
Hernandez's trip marks the second time that Rosales has visited Taiwan.
Previously, the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation had come to Taiwan in November 2014 when he was Hernandez's minister of development and social inclusion and the first member of Hernandez's cabinet to visit Taiwan.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel