President Han: The people of Panama are warm and friendly, and the country holds a favorable business environment, with promising prospects for Taiwan–Panama economic and trade cooperation
At noon of November 26, President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) of the Legislative Yuan received and hosted a luncheon for a cross-party delegation of parliamentarians from the Republic of Panama. President Han was accompanied by KMT Legislator Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang, DPP Legislator Dr. Wang Cheng-Hsu, TPP Legislator Chang Chi-Kai, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ger Bau-Shuan.
In his remarks, President Han first extended a warm welcome on behalf of the Legislative Yuan to the Panamanian parliamentary delegation, marking the first visit by Panama’s National Assembly in eight years. He noted that both Taiwan and Panama have unicameral legislatures: Panama, with a population of 4.6 million, has 71 legislators, while Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, has 113 legislators, each bearing significant responsibility to represent public opinion. President Han also pointed out that the Legislative Yuan currently has 48 female legislators, accounting for 42.4 percent of its parliamentary members—the highest proportion in Asia—demonstrating Taiwan’s remarkable achievements in promoting gender equality.
President Han further noted that the people of Taiwan are well aware of the importance of the Panama Canal, which connects North and South America and holds great strategic significance. He said that Taiwan and Panama have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and that in 2025, Taiwan at one point rose to become Panama’s second-largest export destination, while Panamanian white shrimp exports to Taiwan accounted for nearly 40 percent of Taiwan’s total imports of white shrimp. President Han further mentioned that overseas compatriot communities have also shared that the people of Panama are warm and hospitable and that the country’s business environment is favorable, highlighting the strong potential for bilateral cooperation on economy and trade. President Han emphasized that legislators from all three major political parties were present at today’s meeting, reflecting a high level of cross-party consensus in advancing parliamentary diplomacy with Panama, and expressed hope that exchanges between the two legislatures would further enhance bilateral relations.
Chairman Manuel Cohen Salerno, head of the delegation, thanked President Han and the attending legislators for their warm hospitality. He stated that all members of the delegation place great importance on democracy and human rights, which are core values embodied by Taiwan. Chairman Cohen Salerno said that several members of the delegation also participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), actively defending democratic values and firmly supporting Taiwan’s sovereignty. He noted that this term of Panama’s National Assembly is the first in history in which no single party holds a majority; however, dialogue and mutual respect among parties have instead helped strengthen democratic governance. Chairman Cohen Salerno added that through this visit, he hoped to further consolidate the longstanding friendship between Taiwan and Panama, to learn from Taiwan’s experience in semiconductors and high-tech supply chains, to expand cooperation in high-tech industries, and to enhance bilateral trade and economic momentum.
After exchanging commemorative gifts and taking a group photo with the delegation, President Han hosted a luncheon for the delegation together with attending legislators. During the banquet, Legislator Wang remarked that Taiwan-Panama cooperation rests on a solid foundation and that the peoples of both countries share a passion for sports. He cited the example of Taiwanese pitcher Wang Chien-Ming, whose first Major League Baseball victory was achieved in partnership with Panamanian legendary catcher Mariano Rivera; of Wang’s 55 career wins, 24 were completed with Rivera catching—an exemplary demonstration of how Taiwan and Panama can achieve outstanding results through cooperation.
Legislator Chen and Legislator Chang also warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed hope that Panamanian legislators would visit Taiwan more frequently in the future. President Han noted that Taiwan will host the “Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan” in early December, where hundreds of medical institutions will showcase Taiwan’s advanced medical technologies and capabilities. He sincerely invited Panamanian legislators to attend the Expo to further deepen cooperation in health and medical care and jointly promote the well-being of the peoples of both countries.
During the luncheon, the two sides exchanged in discussions on a wide range of topics including parliamentary structures, party composition, women’s political participation, parliamentary operations, anti-corruption efforts, health and medical care, economic and trade development, public security, and education. The meeting took place in a cordial and relaxed atmosphere, with both sides enjoying warm and friendly exchanges. The luncheon concluded after approximately one and a half hours.
