TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Taiwan’s ties with Honduras could improve once the country’s president-elect, Nasry Asfura, is sworn in on Jan. 27.

Lin made the remarks in a POP Radio interview on Thursday. He said Asfura pledged during his campaign to prioritize three key partners — the US, Israel, and Taiwan — and cited past benefits Taiwan brought to Honduras. Taiwan will be an indispensable part of Honduras’ overall foreign policy, Lin said.

With renewed US engagement in the Western Hemisphere, Taiwan–Honduras relations could make further progress, Lin said.

Lin added that Taiwan has been promoting its Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project among neighboring diplomatic allies, including Belize and Guatemala, and that Honduras has taken note of those efforts.

Honduras severed relations with Taiwan under President Xiomara Castro in March 2023 in pursuit of greater economic cooperation with China.

After establishing ties with Beijing, Honduras lost many preferential trade arrangements with Taiwan, including ones on shrimp exports, per El Heraldo. The termination of the free trade agreement with Taiwan in March 2023 led to the imposition of a 20% tariff on Honduran shrimp exports.