Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced on Thursday (February 2) that he would withdraw from China's "Belt and Road Initiative", and the decision will take effect in 6 days. In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday (90th) that Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhao Zhiyuan had met with the Panamanian ambassador to China on Friday (8th) and made "solemn representations" to Panama.
According to the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Zhiyuan met with the Panamanian ambassador to China on the 7th and lodged a solemn representation to Panama regarding Panama's plan to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding on the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Panama. Zhao Zhiyuan said that China deeply regrets this and that under the framework of jointly building the "Belt and Road", practical cooperation between China and Pakistan in various fields has developed well. He also stressed that more than 150 countries are participating in the "Belt and Road" cooperation, and "reversing" the "Belt and Road" may go against the expectations of the Chinese and Pakistani people and is not in line with Pakistan's vital interests.
According to China's official media CCTV, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on the 7th, "China firmly opposes the US's efforts to smear and undermine the joint construction of the 'Belt and Road' cooperation through pressure and coercion, and deeply regrets Pakistan's decision not to renew the memorandum of understanding." He also said that China-Panama relations are not directed against any third party and should not be subject to external interference. He hoped that Panama would consider the overall situation and long-term interests of bilateral relations, eliminate external influences and make the right choice.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the meeting, the Panamanian ambassador to China said that Panama attaches great importance to its relations with China and promised to report to the government immediately.
