Editor's Note
Elegantly dressed in formal attire, there's a group of people, who always actively engage in important diplomatic and foreign affairs events. Despite their busy schedule, they take time to explore the vibrant streets and alleys of Beijing, immersing themselves in the history and cultural allure of this modern metropolis. Who are they? They are ambassadors representing over 170 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania, in China.
Curious about their impressions of Beijing? Which popular tourist attractions have they visited, and what cuisines do they like? Do they prefer unwinding at a cafe in Sanlitun, cycling along the riverbanks, or taking leisurely strolls after work? Moreover, what messages do they wish to convey to the people of Beijing?
To explore these questions, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs has partnered with Beijing Daily and Beijing Radio & Television Station to create the "Beijing in the Eyes of Ambassadors" series. In today's edition, we will take you to the office of H.E. Salvador Moncada, the first Honduran Ambassador to China. He is both a distinguished diplomat and a renowned medical scientist. Let's hear his stories about Beijing!
Beijing, a city filled with warmth and the bustle of life
Ambassador Salvador Moncada's office is located near the vibrant Liangmaqiao area. Through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows, one can get a panoramic view of the towering high-rises and the bustling traffic along the East Third Ring Road. Yet, he said, "While I like the fantastic modern buildings, the hutong area for me is the most beautiful."
On weekends, the ambassador enjoys wandering through hutongs, exploring the pocket greens, browsing local markets, and dining at small restaurants in hutongs that capture the essence of this ancient city. The hutongs are just like the fabric of the old town area, linking neighborhood blocks with their lively yet sometimes tranquil atmosphere, a blend of warmth and vibrancy that the ambassador finds deeply relaxing. He is also impressed by the hospitality and friendliness of Beijing's residents. "Hospitality, in general, in China is great, and I find the people in Beijing very warm," he said. "Conversations here are easy and very soft, and very productive sometimes. You can learn quite a number of things." He particularly enjoys visiting local markets, where casual chats with nice vendors provide an experience far more interesting than shopping in big malls.
Ambassador Moncada has visited many of Beijing's iconic tourist destinations, including the Temple of Heaven and Beihai Park, but the Forbidden City stands out as the most impressive to him. He shared that he has experienced it in three seasons—spring, summer, and autumn, each with its own unique beauty. He is already planning a winter visit to witness its snowy charm. The ambassador also praised the exceptional preservation and restoration of the Forbidden City, describing it as a grand and magnificent treasure.
While touring Beijing's historical sites, Ambassador Moncada encountered many young visitors dressed in traditional Han costumes, posing for photos—a scene he described as beautiful as the costumes themselves. Though he comes from Central America, the ambassador has developed a preference for Chinese tea over coffee, especially favoring oolong and jasmine tea. "I have tea throughout the day," he said with a smile. Perhaps it is Beijing's cultural inclusiveness and the serendipitous alignment of tastes that have drawn the ambassador from across the ocean to fall in love with this city.
Beijing, a massive, fantastic city
"I like being in Beijing, I really do," Ambassador Moncada stressed repeatedly during this interview. "Beijing is a massive, fantastic city".
In addition to the warm hospitality of the local people, "China is very easy for foreigners to travel and live in", noted the ambassador. With tools like WeChat and Alipay, he can make payments for all kinds of services just like a local. "The simplicity and efficiency of the system, there is nothing like that, I think, anywhere in the world," he said. "I sometimes go out with just my phone, and that's all I need to spend the whole day around, shopping, going to restaurants and then getting into the underground, coming in and out."
The subway is one of Ambassador Moncada's favorite modes of transportation. He enjoys the experience, because of the convenience of mobile payment, and the opportunity to mingle with locals and visitors alike. Sometimes, curious children on the subway train take notice of him, and the ambassador, very approachable in nature, often finds himself entertained by those children's amusing conversations with their parents. While he has tried online car-hailing services, Ambassador Moncada commented that the subway is a far better choice during rush hours.
The ambassador is committed to promoting more exchanges and cooperation
Economic and trade cooperation is obviously a key priority for Ambassador Moncada. His office features a collection of souvenir medals from various trade and commercial events, neatly arranged on the cupboard, reflecting his dedicated efforts in fostering collaboration. According to relevant news, China and Honduras have achieved fruitful results in economic and trade collaboration since the signing of the memorandum of understanding on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative. Whether it's attending coffee-tasting events in Sanlitun or promoting whiteleg shrimps in supermarkets, the ambassador has been actively involved in all kinds of activities. "We need China to invest in Honduras," he said. "I'm very interested in bringing Chinese companies to invest in our country. I think that we can create opportunities for development and employment and so on, and expand our exchanges and business engagements in more specific areas."
In addition to his role as the Honduran ambassador to China, Mr. Moncada is a renowned medical scientist who serves as an international member of several national academies of science. When asked about his views on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ambassador Moncada shared that his first encounter with TCM occurred before his arrival in China, during a visit to a TCM clinic in London. After assuming his ambassadorial role, he sought acupuncture treatment at a TCM clinic in Beijing to alleviate back pain. "It doesn't feel anything special apart from the little pinch of the needle," he commented. On the topic of medical cooperation, the ambassador noted that Beijing has many excellent medical universities and expressed his willingness to promote exchange and collaboration between both sides. "That's one of the things that I want to concentrate on in the next months and probably years", he said, expressing his desire to bring more medical students from Honduras to Beijing for study and exchange programs. He also emphasized the need to train more nurses and medical technicians.
In the cultural sector, Ambassador Moncada believes that the two sides should "promote the movement of culture from one place to another". He mentioned that music and dance groups from Honduras have already been brought to China and would like to invite Chinese music and dance groups to perform in Honduras.
Honduras welcomes more visitors from Beijing
Honduras has already been recognized by Chinese visitors as a recommended tourist destination, and the country is poised to attract more Chinese tourists in the coming years. On this topic, Ambassador Moncada stepped into the role of a tourism ambassador for Honduras. He described his homeland "as a beautiful country right in the middle of Central America, with the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south, abundant in tropical forests, mountains, beautiful rivers and other natural attractions."
In addition to the natural scenery, Ambassador Moncada also highlighted the unique Maya culture in Honduras. He mentioned the famous ruins of Copán, a significant archaeological site of the Maya civilization. He noted that there are "similarities between ancient Chinese culture and Maya culture" and added that the jade artifacts of both countries share striking similarities in certain aspects. Furthermore, Honduras is home to immigrants from diverse regions, resulting in a rich blend of cultures. The Ambassador warmly invited more Beijing residents to visit Honduras and experience this captivating fusion of cultures firsthand.
