Honduran officials expressed eagerness to deepen energy cooperation with China at the Honduras Energy Investment Forum, which was successfully held in Beijing on Monday.
Honduran Secretary of State in the Office of Finance Christian Duarte emphasized that his country and other Latin American and Caribbean countries are committed to building more win-win cooperation and solidarity with China.
"The CELAC countries are committed to building bridges, not walls. We believe in the power of cooperation, and we firmly believe that all countries can achieve common development. The development of one country does not necessarily come at the expense of other countries," he said in an interview with China Media Group (CMG).
Honduras has mapped out ambitious green energy targets. The country's Energy Minister stressed the urgency of meeting its pledge to derive 70 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030, calling Chinese storage technology critical to overcoming infrastructure gaps.
"We have made a commitment that by 2030, the proportion of renewable energy in power generation will reach 70 percent. Our current challenge is how to fulfill this commitment and how to store renewable energy. This is why China's renewable energy storage system is so critical for a country like ours, allowing us to utilize renewable energy technologies," said Erick Tejada, Minister of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment, and Mines of Honduras.
Honduras established diplomatic ties with China in March 2023. According to Salvador Moncada, Ambassador of Honduras to China, China's renewable expertise aligns with Honduras' vision for a sustainable future, and the two countries have built close ties through trade and investment.
"I think with developing, our commerce has increased very significantly in the two years. The opportunities of expanding the commerce have also increased. We are starting to see Chinese investment coming to Honduras, and we have other areas of international communication, in the area of education, in the area of infrastructure, in the Belt and Road Initiative and so on," Moncada said.
Honduras' Energy Ministry and a China-led initiative - the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) - signed a letter of intent for more power cooperation at the forum.
The Honduras Energy Investment Forum took place ahead of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, which opened its fourth ministerial meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.
Honduras to deepen renewable energy partnership with China
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
