Beijing: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Zhiyuan, met the Panamanian ambassador to China Miguel Humbert Lecaro Barcenas on Friday, holding a serious representation on the recent announcement of Panama to stop the memorandum of understanding cooperation by belt and on the road .
According to the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zhao said that the Chinese party deeply regretted the recent announcement of Panama.
Zhao stressed that as part of the Belt and Road (BRI) initiative, cooperation in China-Panama has grown rapidly in various fields, offering tangible advantages to Panama and its people. More than 150 countries actively participate in the BRI, the results benefiting people from various countries, including Panama.
Relying the course on the BRI and ignoring the expectations of the two nations does not correspond to the fundamental interests of Panama, said Zhao.
Zhao stressed that China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Panama, the defense of the equality of all the countries, whatever the size, and sticks to mutual respect and membership of commitments.
China is firmly opposed to American arbitrary actions aimed at undergoing China-Panama relations and to tarnish and disrupt cooperation in the joint construction of the BRI by pressure and threats, Zhao said.
The China-Panama relationship is not aimed at any third party and should not be interfered by any third party. It should be hoped that the Panamanian party will avoid external interference and will make the right decision according to the overall situation of bilateral relations and long -term interests of the two peoples, said the assistant minister.
Lecaro said Panama values his relations with China and will bring the situation to his government.
