Representatives from Panama and China on Wednesday signed an economic cooperation agreement between the two countries to strengthen commercial relations.
Ma Yue, an official of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and Ivan Cohen, leader of the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, signed the document on the eve of the opening of the 5th Economic and Commercial Expo' of the People's Republic of China, which is to take place late Wednesday in Panama City.
Under the agreement, both countries will boost economic cooperation, and commit to establishing a regular information and viewpoint exchange mechanism on bilateral commercial expansion.
The accord is also aimed at promoting the exchange of visits between entrepreneurs and traders from both countries.
China's trade with Panama stood at around US$1.2 billion in the year 2000 with China's export up 33 per cent from the previous year.
(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2001)
