Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Maria Liu (second left) and Honduras' Ambassador to Taiwan Rafael Fernando Sierra Quesada (second right) (Photo courtesy of the embassy of Honduras)
Taipei, Aug. 1 (CNA) The first batch of beef imported from Honduras in recent years has arrived in Taiwan, fulfilling a promise made by President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this year during a visit to the Central American ally to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
The beef, which arrived in two 40-foot shipping containers, arrived in Taiwan July 27 and has passed required quarantine inspections, the ministry said in a statement.
A ceremony to mark the arrival was held in Taichung Tuesday, attended by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Maria Liu, Honduras' Ambassador to Taiwan Rafael Fernando Sierra Quesada and representatives from the Taiwanese importer, Natural Meat Corp., according to the statement.
Liu reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to its "steadfast diplomacy" and said the country will expand trade and economic exchanges and cooperation in the pursuit of reciprocal relations with its diplomatic allies.
Honduras stopped beef exports to Taiwan a few years ago due to domestic issues in the Central American country, Sierra told CNA.
"We're very happy," Sierra said of the re-entry of Honduran beef to Taiwan.
The Taiwanese importer plans to import four containers of beef from Honduras every month, according to the ministry.
Sierra said that more agricultural products from Honduras are expected to hit the market in Taiwan in the near future, including melons, shrimps and coffee.
Tsai visited Honduras in January on a visit to four of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Central America. In her meeting with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, she pledged that Taiwan will strengthen cooperation with Honduras in agriculture.
During a meeting in early July with a parliamentary delegation from Honduras, Tsai said that Taiwan has been working to address the procedures needed to open the way for the entry of Honduran agricultural products, including beef and melons.
