CIDCA chairman meets with Panamanian vice-foreign minister

On April 5, 2024, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Luo Zhaohui met with Panama's Vice-Foreign Minister Vladimir Adolfo Franco Sousa in Panama City.

Luo noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Panama seven years ago, the two countries' political relations have been continuously solidified, yielding positive results in bilateral pragmatic cooperation. China is ready to continue to explore more "small yet smart" people's livelihood assistance projects with Panama, support Panama to improve its public healthcare capacity and infrastructure in remote areas, and strengthen cooperation in human resource development, promoting the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, he said.

Franco thanked China for its support to Panama in various fields. Noting the broad prospects and huge cooperation potential between the two countries, he said that Panama is willing to learn more from China's successful development experience, strengthen cooperation with China and push for more outcomes.

The two sides exchanged views on specific cooperation projects. Chinese Ambassador to Panama Xu Xueyuan, Director-General of the CIDCA's Second Department of Regional Affairs Bai Bin, Deputy Director-General of the CIDCA's Department of International Cooperation Meng Ran, and Director of International Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama Carla Ramírez also attended the meeting. 

During his visit to Panama, Luo also met with General Director of the Panamanian Social Security Fund Enrique Lau Cortés, with whom he made site visits to projects including the smart healthcare city. The Chinese delegation also visited and talked with local Chinese enterprises.