China wants Panama to be its gateway to Central America

Beijing: China on Tuesday said its President Xi Jinping’s visit to Panama was a step forward to improve bilateral ties and turn the Latin American country into Beijing’s gateway to Central America. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told reporters that Xi and his Panamanian counterpart, Juan Carlos Varela, on Monday reached broad agreements and achieved positive and productive results during their meeting at Presidential Palace in Panama City. The spokesperson said Beijing would give the Panama Canal more importance in its trade as due to its strategic location, Panama could become the gateway and point of connection between China and Central America, Efe news reported. (IANS)

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