China-Panama ties at a glance

President Xi Jinping will start his state visit to Panama at the invitation of Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela. This is the first state visit ever to the country made by a Chinese president.

Political ties

June 13, 2017 - establishment of diplomatic ties

China and Panama signed a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 13, 2017.

According to the communique, 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 the date of signature of this communique.

The Government of the Republic of Panama recognizes that there is but 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 China's territory, it said.

November 17, 2017 - Panamanian President visits China

Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela made his first state visit to China only five months after the establishment of diplomatic relations of the two countries in November of 2017.

The two countries signed 19 cooperation documents covering such areas as finance, agriculture, trade and tourism in a ceremony witnessed by the presidents of the two countries.