Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing wanted to deepen cooperation with Panama and that bilateral relations should not be influenced by "interference from third parties," according to the official Xinhua news agency.
These remarks were made during a meeting with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha on the sidelines of a UN Security Council meeting in New York.
Beijing also called on Panama to protect the interests of Chinese companies operating in the country, amid heightened sensitivity around strategic infrastructure related to the Panama Canal, a major artery of global maritime trade.
This statement comes as the United States is exerting increasing pressure on several Latin American countries regarding Chinese investments in strategic sectors such as ports and telecommunications.
China is thus seeking to consolidate its economic presence in Central America while responding to growing concerns related to geopolitical competition with Washington.
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