Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon for a delegation from the Panama National Assembly Feb. 5 in Taipei City and expressed hope of expanding mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the seven-member group was led by José Antonio Pérez Barboni, executive secretary of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and comprised cross-party lawmakers.
The minister welcomed the second cross-party legislative group from Panama since November last year, adding that the visit reflected the lawmaking body’s friendship and support for Taiwan.
Since joining the IPAC in August 2025, Pérez and his fellow legislators have issued several joint statements to refute China’s distortion of U.N. Resolution 2758. Such support is sincerely appreciated by the government and people of Taiwan, Lin said.
The minister shared his recent op-ed published in Foreign Affairs and said that given Taiwan’s leading role in the semiconductor, artificial intelligence and renewable energy sectors, the country is a trusted partner of members of the free world seeking risk diversification, economic security and supply chain resilience.
As Taiwan and Panama are both global maritime hubs with strong influence on regional security, expanded bilateral cooperation will help create a more stable non-red supply chain, Lin said. The ministry looks forward to establishing mutually beneficial cooperation with Panama based on the Taiwan Model established via the government’s Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in its Latin American allies, he added.
In response, Pérez said that through visits to Taiwan’s legislature, key ministries and businesses, the group members all recognize the great potential for bilateral cooperation and that he hoped to see more legislators, business representatives and officials from Panama visit Taiwan in the future. Other delegates said they will share their experience after returning to Panama to help expand partnership with Taiwan.
The MOFA said the delegates also exchanged views with representatives from the local frozen seafood import and shipping sectors. Thanks to the bilateral free trade agreement, Taiwan is a leading destination for white shrimp exports from Panama and a major user of the Panama Canal, the ministry said. (SFC-E)
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