China and El Salvador Pledge Deeper Legislative and Economic Ties

Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, met with Ernesto Castro, president of El Salvador's Legislative Assembly, in Beijing on August 20. Held on the eve of the eighth anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and El Salvador, the meeting focused on expanding inter-parliamentary exchanges, deepening mutual political trust, and enhancing bilateral cooperation across trade, technology, and governance. Castro affirmed El Salvador's commitment to advancing ties and adhering to the one-China principle.

The meeting underscores Beijing's ongoing effort to institutionalize diplomatic and economic relations with Central American partners. By strengthening ties with El Salvador's legislative leadership, China aims to solidify political alignment and secure long-term legal frameworks for bilateral trade, investment, and infrastructure initiatives.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), held talks with Ernesto Castro, president of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on August 20, according to Xinhua reports. The meeting took place on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Zhao noted that under the strategic guidance of both heads of state, bilateral relations have developed rapidly with substantial practical cooperation. He expressed China's readiness to work with El Salvador to implement the consensus reached by their leaderships, enhance mutual trust, expand exchanges, and elevate relations to higher levels. Zhao emphasized the importance of deepening political mutual trust, expressing appreciation for El Salvador's adherence to the one-China principle and its support on issues concerning Taiwan and human rights. He stated that China is willing to treat the bilateral relationship as a model of friendly cooperation between nations of different sizes and national conditions. Zhao also highlighted opportunities to share benefits from China's continued high-level opening up, deepen economic and trade ties, and provide assistance within China's capacity to support El Salvador's national development. Highlighting the role of legislative engagement, Zhao noted that ties between the NPC and the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador are an essential component of bilateral relations. He proposed closer cooperation through specialized committees, bilateral friendship groups, and reciprocal visits between lawmakers. Zhao also briefed the Salvadoran delegation on China's whole-process people's democracy and governance practices, expressing willingness to share experiences in poverty alleviation and legal development. Castro stated that fostering friendly relations with China is of significant importance to El Salvador. He noted that over the past eight years, bilateral friendship has been continually consolidated on the basis of mutual respect, trust, and mutual benefit. Castro affirmed that El Salvador is prepared to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen cooperation in economic, technological, and cultural fields, and utilize legislative exchanges to build stronger bridges for practical bilateral cooperation.