Panama's Vice Foreign Minister: Panama and China Agree to Extend Maritime Agreement
Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Arturo Oyos stated that Panama and China have reached an agreement to extend their bilateral maritime agreement, and both sides are currently undergoing internal approval procedures.
Speaking in an interview with Telemetro television, Oyos said: "Last week, a Panamanian delegation visited China and held technical discussions we previously mentioned. An important agreement was reached during these talks, and both sides are now carrying out their respective internal procedures to advance the potential extension of the maritime agreement."
Oyos noted that the meeting was requested by Panama and held over the weekend, focusing on issues concerning Panamanian-flagged vessels restricted in Chinese ports. He pointed out that the situation regarding vessel detentions is improving.
"The data from June was positive. The number of detentions significantly declined compared to previous months, and there was also a noticeable decrease in July. We have returned to historical levels, achieving a more predictable situation—undoubtedly good news," he said.
He added that the Panamanian authorities hope to further ease tensions with China, expressing no desire for conflict with China or being drawn into larger-scale confrontations.
Regarding the so-called restrictions on Panamanian ships in Chinese ports, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson previously responded by stating that statistics from Chinese supervisory authorities show that since the beginning of this year, Panamanian-flagged vessels have been involved in multiple safety incidents of grade-level or higher within Chinese waters, making Panama the country with the highest proportion of such incidents among foreign flag states. From January to July this year, the total number of arrivals of Panamanian-flagged vessels accounted for nearly 20% of all foreign-flagged vessels docking in Chinese ports, while the share of accidents and missing/deceased personnel reached approximately 50% each.
The spokesperson emphasized that port state control inspections are essential measures for ensuring vessel navigation safety and maintaining clean water environments, serving as the primary method used by countries to manage the safety of foreign-flagged vessels calling at their ports. China places high importance on maritime traffic and personal safety, conducting port state control inspections on vessels docking at Chinese ports in accordance with laws and regulations, fully complying with international conventions.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871304582177864/
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