Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L), Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela (C) and Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, Panama's vice president and foreign minister, attend a signing ceremony in Panama City, on Sept. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Dan Hang)
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed Sunday the first 100 days since China and Panama established diplomatic ties by giving it "a full score of 100 points".
At a joint press conference with Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, Panama's vice president and foreign minister, Wang said that during these 100 days, the two sides opened their respective embassies in each other's countries, initiated negotiations on more than a dozen cooperation agreements concerning trade, investment, quality inspection, maritime transportation, aviation, finance, tourism, culture and justice so as to build up the basic framework for long-term development of China-Panama relations.
He urged the two sides to sign these agreements in a package when Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela visits China later this year.
The Chinese minister noted that a group of Chinese firms came to Panama a few days ago, and signed at once contracts for the export of Panamanian goods to Chinese markets valued at 38.7 million U.S. dollars.
He said China would like to join hands with Panama tightly and continue to strengthen exchanges at all levels and in various sectors so as to promote mutual understanding and trust.
At the press conference, Wang said China is willing to work with Panama, a key Latin American nation, to jointly build a new type of international relations that stress win-win cooperation.
Wang recalled that during his meeting with Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, the two sides reached a broad range of consensuses, and agreed that the one China policy would be the political foundation for bilateral ties.
They also agreed to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, and take joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as an opportunity to promote mutually beneficial cooperation so as to better serve the two peoples.
The two sides also agreed that China and Panama, both developing economies, should support each other on issues of their respective concerns, and strengthen communication and coordination in regional and international affairs in a bid to maintain the overall interests of the developing world.
