In a significant stride towards enhancing international relations, Panama’s National Assembly has launched a multiparty interparliamentary friendship group with Taiwan’s legislative body. This new initiative aims to establish a robust platform for parliamentary exchanges and foster bilateral cooperation between the two sides. Notably, the group comprises 45 lawmakers from Panama’s 71-member assembly, representing over 60% of the legislative body. Among the notable members are National Assembly President Shirley Castañedas, along with Vice Presidents Manuel Cohen and Manuel Cheng.
Taiwan has expressed a warm welcome to this development, highlighting its potential to fortify parliamentary diplomacy and broaden collaboration grounded in shared principles such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. The creation of this group follows a series of visits to Taiwan by more than 20 Panamanian lawmakers over the last six months, signaling a renewed interest in strengthening ties despite Panama’s decision to sever formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in June 2017.
The establishment of this interparliamentary group is seen as a pivotal move to facilitate deeper dialogue and cooperation on matters of mutual interest. It is anticipated that the group will play a crucial role in reinforcing people-to-people connections between Panama and Taiwan, allowing for a more dynamic exchange of ideas and initiatives.
This development marks a notable shift in Panama’s legislative approach towards Taiwan, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of fostering international partnerships. With the backing of a significant majority of Panamanian lawmakers, the friendship group is poised to become a cornerstone for future collaborative efforts, underscoring a commitment to shared democratic values and human rights.