Source: Republic of China Taiwan
MOFA offers sincere congratulations on establishment of Panama-Taiwan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group by Panama’s National Assembly
Date：2026-09-09
Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs
September 9, 2026
No. 425
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) welcomes the establishment of the Panama-Taiwan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group by the National Assembly of Panama, which will deepen parliamentary exchanges and the democratic partnership between the two countries.
The friendship group was officially inaugurated during a ceremony at the National Assembly on September 8. A total of 45 legislators joined, including President of the National Assembly Shirley Castañedas, First Vice President of the National Assembly and Cochair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) Manuel Cohen Salerno, Second Vice President Manuel Cheng, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee Joan Manuel Guevara, IPAC Cochair Ronald Ameth De Gracia, and Medin Jiménez, who will serve as chair of the friendship group. Membership accounts for more than 60 percent of all lawmakers in the National Assembly.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung was invited to record a video message for the occasion, underscoring the friendly cross-party momentum and staunch support for Taiwan in the National Assembly. Minister Lin extended sincere congratulations on the launch of the friendship group and stated that Taiwan and Panama shared such common values as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. He anticipated that the friendship group would help enhance parliamentary diplomacy, expand cooperation and exchanges across domains, and advance the welfare of the peoples of both nations, creating mutual benefit and coprosperity.
Over the past six months, more than 20 Panamanian legislators have visited Taiwan. Minister Lin actively encouraged members of the National Assembly friendly to Taiwan to build consensus and promote the formation of the friendship group. The group’s smooth establishment marks a historic milestone in the resumption of exchanges between Taiwan and Panama.
Additionally, US Congressional Taiwan Caucus Cochair Mario Díaz-Balart recorded a video congratulating the National Assembly on the founding of the friendship group. In it, he affirmed that Taiwan and Panama shared the core values of prosperity, freedom, and democracy. Citing his own experience cochairing the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, he said that he fully understood the significance of the friendship group’s establishment. Also via video, Taiwan Legislator and IPAC Cochair Fan Yun extended felicitations to the National Assembly on establishing the friendship group, noting that it would serve as a new platform for exchanges and cordial interactions between Taiwan and Panama. Representatives from embassies of like-minded countries and diplomatic allies in Panama—including the United States and Paraguay—attended the event to offer congratulations, highlighting their support for the strengthening of democratic alliances.
MOFA expresses its appreciation to Panamanian supporters of Taiwan across all sectors for their steadfast backing. It will continue to work closely with the National Assembly and the friendship group to actively further parliamentary diplomacy and bolster the Taiwan-Panama partnership. (E)