Panama President announces for Belt and Road Agreement with China

Panama President announces for Belt and Road Agreement with China

The President of Panama again emphasized on Sunday that Panama's sovereignty over the Panama Canal is not up for debate. During talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he announced that he had addressed the concerns of the United States about China's presence on the important waterway.

Panama and the collaboration with the USA

President Raúl Mulino added that Panama signed a 2017 agreement to participate in China's initiative for overseeing, known as Belt and Road . He also indicated that the deal with China could possibly be ended prematurely.

Mulino said that Panama intended to work with the United States on new investments, including infrastructure projects. „Ich denke, dieser Besuch öffnet die Tür, um neue Beziehungen aufzubauen … und zu versuchen, die US-Investitionen in Panama so weit wie möglich zu steigern“, sagte Mulino am Sonntag gegenüber Journalisten nach Rubios erster Auslandsreise als oberster Diplomat der Vereinigten Staaten.

concern about China's influence

The comments from Mulino were accompanied by a statement by the US State Department to the meeting. It reports that Rubio announced to the President of Panama and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Achach that the concerns about China's "control" over the Panama Canal could mean that the United States "has to take necessary measures to protect its rights", according to a long-term contract on neutrality and the operation of the channel.

according to The contractor returned the channel under the condition that the waterway returned remains neutral. According to the agreement, the United States could intervene militarily if the operating processes of the channel were disrupted by internal conflicts or foreign power. Today, more freight is transported by the channel than ever, even more than during the years under US control.

The company that is about is the

as CNN reported before, Panama Canal . The workers on their two ports only load containers on ships and provide them with fuel. Three other ports near the channel are operated by competing companies that offer similar services.

Repatriation flights and migration

Mulino also reported that the Panamaic authorities had spoken to Rubio about the possibility of a program for migrant recovery flights to remove foreigners who have no legal basis for their stay in Panama and emphasized that the USA bears the costs should.

When asked whether migrants come to Panama and then be returned to their respective countries, Mulino replied: "Yes. Exactly ... We can do that, without problems, at the USA. Panama will not invest a single dollar for it." The in July program aims at the irregular migration Reducing the dari gap, a mountainous rainforest area that connects South and Central America. The 66 miles (106 kilometers) long hike through the Darien leads migrants from Colombia to Panama and is a crucial access point for those who hope to reach the United States and Canada.