In a significant diplomatic move, Panama’s National Assembly has initiated a new interparliamentary friendship group with Taiwan’s legislature, marking a fresh avenue for bilateral cooperation and parliamentary dialogue. This group, a multiparty coalition, comprises 45 of the 71 Panamanian lawmakers, accounting for over 60% of the assembly’s members. Notably, the group includes prominent figures such as National Assembly President Shirley Castañedas and Vice Presidents Manuel Cohen and Manuel Cheng.
Taiwan has expressed its approval of this development, highlighting the potential for bolstering parliamentary diplomacy and enhancing collaboration based on common values such as democracy, freedom, and human rights. This move is particularly noteworthy given Panama’s previous decision to sever formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in June 2017, making the establishment of this group a significant step towards renewed engagement.
The formation of this parliamentary body follows visits by more than 20 Panamanian lawmakers to Taiwan over the last six months. These visits likely played a pivotal role in fostering this new level of cooperation and dialogue. The group is poised to facilitate more robust interaction in areas of shared interest, fostering closer relations between the two nations.
With this new platform, Panama and Taiwan aim to strengthen people-to-people connections and engage in meaningful exchanges that could benefit both sides. As the group begins its work, it is expected to contribute positively to the broader diplomatic and cooperative landscape between Panama and Taiwan.