In a significant diplomatic gesture, Panama’s National Assembly has launched a multiparty interparliamentary friendship group with Taiwan’s legislature, paving the way for enhanced parliamentary exchanges and bilateral cooperation. This newly established group boasts the membership of 45 lawmakers from Panama’s 71-member assembly, which accounts for over 60% of its representatives. Among the prominent figures joining this initiative are National Assembly President Shirley Castañedas and Vice Presidents Manuel Cohen and Manuel Cheng.
Taiwan has expressed strong support for this development, viewing it as an opportunity to bolster parliamentary diplomacy and deepen cooperation grounded in shared values such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. The formation of the group follows a series of visits by more than 20 Panamanian lawmakers to Taiwan over the last six months, underscoring a growing interest in fostering closer ties.
This move by Panama is particularly noteworthy given the country’s decision to sever formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in June 2017. Despite this past diplomatic shift, the establishment of the parliamentary platform indicates a renewed interest in dialogue and collaboration on mutual interests, as well as a commitment to strengthening interpersonal connections between the two sides.
The new platform is expected to serve as a conduit for greater dialogue and cooperation, focusing on areas of shared interest between Panama and Taiwan. By fostering these ties, both countries aim to enhance people-to-people connections and explore avenues for mutual benefit, reflecting a broader commitment to international cooperation beyond formal diplomatic channels.