On September 25, 2019 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Foreign Minister Alejandro Guillermo Ferrer López of Panama on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.

Wang Yi asked Alejandro Guillermo Ferrer López to convey President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings to President Laurentino Cortizo. Wang Yi said, since Mr. Foreign Minister took office, you have resolutely followed the One China principle and actively developed bilateral relations. The Chinese side highly praises such gesture. Since the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Panama, bilateral relations have enjoyed rapid development on all fronts with cooperation potential in various areas fully released. With more than 50 cooperation agreements signed between both sides, Panama’s exports to China grew by 30 percent last year. This indicates the huge potential and space for China-Panama cooperation amid the sluggish global trade at present. The Chinese side will encourage Chinese enterprises to actively participate in China’s cooperation with Panama to bring tangible benefits to the two peoples. The Chinese side will firmly consolidate and develop the friendly relations between the two countries, and is willing to work with the Panamanian side, under the joint guidance of the two heads of state and in line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, push bilateral relations to new levels. It is believed that as bilateral relations consolidate and deepen, China and Panama will surely set a good example of relations between countries of different sizes based on equality, mutual benefit and win-win results, which completely conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and the two peoples.

Wang Yi stressed, China’s cooperation with Latin American countries, including Panama, is sincere and selfless. China has never attached political strings or pursued any geopolitical interests. Latin America is a big stage for all countries to cooperate with each other, rather than an arena for competition among major countries. China-Panama cooperation does not target at any third party, and should not be influenced by any third party.

Alejandro Guillermo Ferrer López conveyed President Laurentino Cortizo’s sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi Jinping, and warmly congratulated on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He said, October 1 also marks the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, which gave Panama back the control of the Panama Canal. Chinese workers once made significant contributions to the construction of the Panama Canal. Both Panama and China have a shared past and are closely connected by their destiny in the future. The hands of the two peoples are always joined together. It is Panama’s independent decision to establish diplomatic relationship with China based on its own national interests, and such decision fully conforms to the interests of the two countries. The Panamanian side attaches great importance to developing relations with China, and will firmly adhere to the One China policy and will always be a reliable partner of China. The Panamanian side looks forward to continuously consolidating and deepening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.