In a significant move to advance diplomatic ties, Panama’s National Assembly has launched a multiparty interparliamentary friendship group with Taiwan’s legislature. This initiative aims to create a robust platform for parliamentary exchanges and bolster bilateral cooperation. Notably, the group comprises 45 out of Panama’s 71 lawmakers, capturing over 60% of the assembly’s membership. Among the prominent figures in this group are National Assembly President Shirley Castañedas, along with Vice Presidents Manuel Cohen and Manuel Cheng.
Taiwan has expressed its approval of this new development, highlighting its potential to enhance parliamentary diplomacy and foster cooperation grounded in shared values such as democracy, freedom, and human rights. The formation of this group comes after more than 20 Panamanian legislators embarked on visits to Taiwan over the last six months, marking a notable shift in engagement between the two regions.
This development is particularly noteworthy given Panama’s decision to end formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in June 2017. The establishment of this friendship group indicates a renewed interest in strengthening ties and exploring collaborative opportunities despite the absence of official diplomatic recognition.
The newly formed parliamentary platform is anticipated to open avenues for increased dialogue and collaboration in areas of common interest. It aims to not only improve legislative interactions but also to enhance people-to-people connections between Panama and Taiwan, fostering a deeper mutual understanding and cooperation between their citizens.