In a significant move aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation, Panama’s National Assembly has formed a multiparty interparliamentary friendship group with Taiwan’s legislature. This newly established platform is designed to foster parliamentary exchanges and strengthen cooperation between the two sides. The group boasts the participation of 45 out of Panama’s 71 lawmakers, effectively representing over 60% of the assembly. Among its 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, viewing it as a potential boost to parliamentary diplomacy. Officials in Taiwan believe the initiative will pave the way for expanded cooperation centered around shared values such as democracy, freedom, and the respect for human rights. This new channel for dialogue comes on the heels of more than 20 Panamanian lawmakers visiting Taiwan over the past six months, indicating a growing interest in strengthening ties despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
The formation of this parliamentary friendship group is particularly noteworthy as it represents a shift in Panama’s international engagement strategy since the country severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in June 2017. The new platform is anticipated to facilitate a deeper dialogue and collaboration on issues of mutual interest while also enhancing people-to-people connections between Panama and Taiwan.
Both Panama and Taiwan see this initiative as a step forward in building a more robust relationship. By focusing on areas where both parties share common interests and values, it is expected that the group will create opportunities for cooperation that transcend traditional diplomatic channels. This approach underscores the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in forging strong international partnerships based on mutual respect and common values.