The president of Panama will travel to China on November 16 to sign agreements

The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, will travel to China between November 16 and 22, which includes a meeting with his colleague Xi Jinping on the first visit of a Panamanian president to the Asian giant, reported today a representative of the Chinese embassy in the Central American country.

Panama, Nov 8 (EFE) .- The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, will travel to China between November 16 and 22, including a meeting with his colleague Xi Jinping, during his first visit to Panama. a Panamanian leader to the Asian giant, a representative of the Chinese embassy in the Central American country informed today.

"President Varela will begin his visit to China on the 16th November until day 22; Panama, Wang Jian, during a business forum.

He added that, during the official visit, a series of cooperation documents will be signed related to the political, commercial sector, finance, maritime, educational, tourism, cultural and legal assistance.

He also specified that, for the first state visit of the Panamanian governor, the last ones are being defined details of a memorandum of understanding on the launch of a joint feasibility study to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

"I see with great optimism the possibility of signing an FTA between China and Panama, in which the procedures can be started very soon, "the representative confided.

He explained that the meeting will serve to give agreements with the inspection and health authority between the two countries, as a first step for the export of agricultural products.

In addition, Wang said that during the tour of Varela to the country will be held two business meetings, possibly in Beijing and Shanghai.

Emphasized that one of the agenda items will promote companies in the Asian country are interested in establishing their headquarters for Latin America in Panama.

According to the official information, Varela will be accompanied by authorities of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries and of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, as well as well-known Panamanian businessmen that will be able to exchange with the private sector in China in order to promote the commercial agenda bilateral.

Panama established on June 13 diplomatic ties with China, to the detriment of Taiwan, and the Executive said it has established 12 pillars in the new bilateral agenda, among them a greater exchange of tourists, strengthen exchanges in merchant shipping, promote Panama as an air connectivity hub, increase trade and encourage the investment of Chinese companies.

After the beginning of diplomatic relations, on October 11 the Vice Minister of Commerce of China, Yu Jianhua, visited Panama to ratify the interest to move forward in the installation of a negotiation table for an FTA.

Panama sold to China in 2016 a total of 50.9 million dollars in copper, crustacean, wood waste and coffee, among others, while the Asian giant exported goods and services to the Central American country for 1,183 million dollars, according to official figures.

China is currently the second most important user of the Panama Canal, behind the US