Chinese embassy inaugurated in Panama

A CGTN screenshot shows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R1) and Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela (L2) inaugurating the Chinese embassy in Panama City on Sunday, September 17, 2017. [Photo: CGTN]

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has inaugurated the country's embassy in Panama.The opening of the embassy comes during a two-day official visit by Wang to the central American country.

"The Chinese Embassy in Panama will fully carry out the friendly policies towards Panama set by the Chinese government. It will work with all sectors of Panama's society to build a new era of cooperation with mutual benefits and mutual development," said Wang. 

Wang Yi has attended the ceremony along with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, listens to Panama's Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo, left, during a press conference at Bolivar Palace in Panama City, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. [Photo: AP]

The two countries established diplomatic relations in June, when Panama began to recognize the one-China principle and severed "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan. Panama's President says the country will firmly pursue the one-China principle and honor its commitment on Taiwan-related issues. 

China and Panama signed a joint communique on June 13th this year on the establishment of diplomatic relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting in Beijing with Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, Panama's vice president and foreign minister, as they signed the joint communique.

According to the document, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Panama, in keeping with the interests and desire of the two peoples, have decided to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level effective from that date.

In the communique, the Panamanian government recognizes that there is one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

The communique also says the Panamanian government severed "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan as of June 13th and undertook not to have any more official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan.

During a press briefing after the meeting in June, Wang Yi said Panama is an important Latin American country, and the Chinese people value the traditional friendship with the Panamanian people.

He said the political decision made by Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and his government meets the fundamental interests of the country.

Wang also said the two sides will have communication and coordination in international and regional affairs and help deepen friendly cooperation between China and Latin America as well as the Caribbean.

China and Panama have had significant commercial relations for decades.

Chinese companies are already involved in dozens of infrastructure projects in Panama, including a 700-million-U.S.-dollar investment in the construction of a new deep-water container port in Isla Margarita, near the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal.

Wang Yi arrived in Panama after a stop in Costa Rica.

He will next head to New York for the General Debate at the UN Headquarters.