Chinese embassy in Honduras holds Spring Festival reception

China

Chinese embassy in Honduras holds Spring Festival reception

2026-02-11 09:34 Last Updated At：02-12 00:07

The Chinese Embassy in Honduras hosted a Spring Festival reception in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa on February 6 to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival which falls on February 17 this year.

Ambassador Yu Bo and his wife, along with other embassy diplomats, gathered with Chinese nationals residing in Honduras, representatives from Chinese enterprises, media outlets, and Confucius Institutes to mark the occasion and celebrate the Year of the Horse.

In his address, Yu extended New Year greetings to Chinese compatriots in Honduras.

He reviewed China's remarkable achievements and the progress in China-Honduras relations in 2025.

He encouraged everyone to stand at this new historical threshold, strive forward on the new journey of Chinese modernization, and make new contributions to advancing the cause of national reunification and promoting China-Honduras relations.

The guests expressed gratitude for the heartfelt care from the motherland and pledged to continue actively contributing to the reunification of the motherland, the rejuvenation of the nation, and the China-Honduras friendship.

"In the Year of the Horse 2026, may our motherland's landscapes be splendid and may our country enjoy prosperity and our people live in peace and harmony! May we achieve new glory with unstoppable momentum. I wish all Chinese people a happy family and boundless energy," said Li Mingzhu, secretary general of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Honduras.

At the reception, the promotional video of China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Spring Festival Gala played on a loop, drawing the attention of the guests in attendance.

In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Honduran flutist Oscar Rodriguez said that China possesses a rich and ancient traditional culture. He said that an increasing number of Hondurans are becoming familiar with the customs of the Chinese New Year, and that the CCTV Spring Festival Gala serves as a window for foreigners to gain insight into China.

"I am truly delighted to be here. This festival holds great significance for me. The Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, symbolizes a new chapter and fresh opportunities. We hope to keep making progress in the new year. From Honduras, I extend my most sincere wishes to the Chinese people," he said.

Representatives of Chinese institutions and overseas Chinese in Honduras also conveyed New Year greetings to the Chinese people.

"Every year we gather around the TV for the Spring Festival Gala. And I turn on the TV in my lobby for all my guests to watch. On this day of celebration, we have a truly spectacular show," said an overseas Chinese in Honduras.

"I wish to see more robotics and AI elements in the Spring Festival Gala, so that the world can understand China's development achievements," said Qi Zhonchen, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the Francisco Morazan National Pedagogical University.

The reception featured spectacular performances such as lion dances, singing, and instrument playing.

U.S. gov't begins refunding tariffs to businesses

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Monday launched the first phase of a new claims system that will allow importers to seek repayment of tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Companies and their customs brokers can submit refund requests through CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal using a newly developed tool known as the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, or CAPE, starting Monday.

Once a claim is validated, CBP will recalculate the duties without the IEEPA tariffs and reliquidate the entries, triggering repayment. The refunds will be paid directly to the businesses that originally paid the tariffs, local media reported Monday.

Valid refunds will generally be issued within 60 to 90 days after a claim is accepted, CBP said, though more complex cases could take longer.

CBP is rolling out the refund process in phases. Court filings show that more than 330,000 importers paid duties on over 53 million shipments, totaling roughly 166 billion U.S. dollars.

The Supreme Court ruled in February that U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs under IEEPA are unconstitutional. It is Congress, not the president, that holds authority over such taxes.

Following the ruling, a judge at the U.S. Court of International Trade directed CBP to remove the tariffs from affected entries and refund any excess duties collected, along with interest.