On March 25, Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), met with the Minister of Tourism of Honduras, Yadira Gómez, and her delegation in Beijing.

Gao Xiang, president of CASS, meets with Honduran Minister of Tourism Yadira Gómez. Photo: The International Cooperation Bureau of CASS

Gao noted that both China and Honduras are countries with rich historical and cultural heritages. In June 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Honduran President Xiomara Castro during her first state visit to China. The two leaders reached significant consensus and jointly outlined a blueprint for the future development of China-Honduras bilateral relations. In 2014, the Institute of Archaeology of CASS signed a cooperation agreement with the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History to jointly undertake archaeological excavations at the Maya Site of Copán. After years of excavation and documentation, the project has yielded substantial outcomes in academic research, cultural heritage preservation, and international exchange and cooperation.

Gao expressed that CASS remains committed to supporting the Copán archaeological project. He conveyed his hope that both sides would build on the preliminary findings to conduct joint research, publish scholarly works, foster inter-museum exchanges, and work together to present to the world the story of the harmonious interplay between Chinese and American civilizations. He extended a warm welcome to Honduran experts and scholars to visit CASS for academic exchanges, thereby gaining a comprehensive understanding of a true, multifaceted China and strengthening the public foundation for the enduring friendship between the peoples of China and Honduras.

Minister Gómez emphasized that the Maya Site of Copán stands as one of the oldest and most magnificent ancient city ruins of the Maya civilization. She affirmed Honduras’s commitment to working closely with CASS in areas such as technology-driven archaeology and the exhibition of cultural artifacts, with the aim of further advancing cultural and people-to-people exchange as well as mutual learning between Honduras and China.

Before the meeting, Minister Gómez and her delegation held discussions with experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of History on issues of mutual interest.