China announces the visit of President Varela from November 16 to 22

The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, will make a state visit to China between November 16 and 22, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced today.

Beijing, Nov 10 (EFE) .- The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, will make a state visit to China between November 16 and 22, officially announced today. Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Varela's visit will respond to an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, It does not offer more details about the program of the trip.

This is the first visit of a Panamanian president to the Asian country, and it comes after Panama announced the past 13 of June the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, after it had traditionally maintained them with Taiwan.

The Government of Panama has not yet made an official announcement, But last Wednesday a Chinese diplomat in that country announced the imminent visit of Varela and advanced that there would be a meeting with Xi Jinping and the possibility of studying the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The Chinese diplomat also advanced that there would be two business meetings and agreements between the inspection and health authorities of both countries, prior to the export of agricultural products.

After the establishment of diplomatic relations, in mid-September the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, visited Panama to launch the negotiation of different cooperation agreements and officially inaugurate the Beijing embassy in the country of the isthmus.