SAN SALVADOR, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The establishment of diplomatic ties between El Salvador and China will boost the Central American country's economic and technological capacities and follows the "inevitable trends of our times," Salvadorans from different segments of society said.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Salvadorean Foreign Minister Carlos Castaneda signed a joint communique in Beijing Tuesday, establishing diplomatic relations.
According to the communique, El Salvador severed "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and undertook not to have any more official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan.
"I believe the Salvadoran people will feel the Chinese people's friendship and hospitality and benefit from the two countries' cooperation," Wang said after the signing ceremony.
Salvadorean President Salvador Sanchez Ceren said: "We are convinced that this is a step in the right direction, which corresponds to the principles of international law, international relations and the inevitable trends of our times."
In an address on national television, the president said the establishment of diplomatic relations with China will stimulate political dialogue, stronger coordination in international affairs, and cooperation between the two countries for mutual benefit.
The president's press secretary Roberto Lorenzana said El Salvador could not continue to turn "its back on the world" by failing to recognize China's role as a global player.
"We cannot ignore that China is the world's second (largest economic) power and the leading export economy on the planet," Lorenzana said. "We should instead be asking ourselves why we didn't do it sooner. How much has El Salvador lost by not having a relationship with an economic giant like China?"
Ties with China will boost El Salvador's economic and technological capacities, as well as educational level, he added.
Professionals in El Salvador hailed the move. Raul Antonio Diaz, manager of a constriction site, said the decision by President Ceren to strengthen ties with China is bound to boost bilateral trade.
Trade could grow a lot with Chinese goods arriving directly instead of via third countries at a higher cost, added Karina Garcia, a 25-year-old seller.
China is among the few countries in the world with a robust economic growth and the new ties could help El Salvador expand its economy, university student Diego Rodriguez told Xinhua.
"It is a great opportunity ... to attract more investment," he said.
