Guatemala is considering reaching out to develop formal trade ties with China, the Central American country¡¯s foreign minister said on Monday, although it plans to maintain its existing relations with Taiwan.

The Central American country is one of a handful of Taiwan¡¯s remaining allies, as countries increasingly side with the world¡¯s second-largest economy, China, which claims the democratically ruled island as its territory.

¡°We are going to continue working with Taiwan at the levels we have been doing,¡± Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez said in an interview. ¡°But the president has pointed out that we cannot ignore the weight and power China represents.¡±