Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) Honduras' outgoing President Juan Orlando Hernandez will visit Taiwan from Friday to Sunday as both countries celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), but the visit also comes as a candidate in the Central American country's upcoming presidential election has vowed to switch recognition to China if elected.
In a statement, the MOFA confirmed on Friday the timetable for the trip, saying Hernandez will be accompanied by his wife, Honduras Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales and the minister's wife.
The MOFA said the delegation led by Hernandez is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan at 7:50 p.m. Friday.
It said the government is sincerely welcoming the visit, which will be Hernandez's fourth to Taiwan.
Hernandez visited Taiwan in the capacity of Honduras' president in 2015 and 2016 after coming here as the speaker of the Central American country's parliament in 2010.
On Thursday, the Honduran government announced the outgoing Hernandez had departed the country and arrived in the United States on Wednesday for a visit before coming to Taiwan after an invitation was extended by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
The upcoming trip comes only months before Hernandez's second presidential term ends and before a potential shift in his country's ties with Taiwan.
One of the candidates in Honduras' presidential election to be held later this month has pledged to recognize Beijing instead of Taipei if elected in the presidential election on Nov. 28.
Xiomaro Castro, the presidential candidate of the left-wing opposition Liberty and Refoundation Party, vowed to open diplomatic relations with China if elected, according to a Reuters report in September.
MOFA has repeatedly said that Taiwan is closely watching the situation in the Central American country.
Honduras did not voice support for Taiwan's international participation in the latest United Nations General Assembly held in September, while other allies largely spoke out for Taiwan. It was the sixth consecutive year the Central American country has refrained from doing so.
The MOFA said in the Friday statement that the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, and Honduras have forged close bilateral ties for a long time and entered exchanges in a wide range of fields, such as economics, trade, infrastructure, public health, agriculture, education and women's rights.
The MOFA emphasized both sides' friendship remained solid.
Taiwan government has warned that China will do everything possible to poach diplomatic allies from Taiwan and said Beijing's promises to win them over are often "colossal but empty."
China's strategy of isolating Taiwan diplomatically has left Taipei with only 15 formal allies, after several countries chose to switch recognition to Beijing in recent years.
In addition to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Hernandez will witness Rosales being awarded the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon by the Taiwanese government, according to the ministry.
The MOFA said the delegation, which also includes Honduras Presidential Office's secretary general Ricardo Cardona, press secretary Sandra Castillo and finance minister Luis Mata, will visit the representative office of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), which opened in July as the regional bank's first foothold in Asia.
