Panama applauds Taiwan-China talks, accords
Written by Writer on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
Panama applauds Taiwan-China talks, accords
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Panamanian officials yesterday applauded the recent talks between Taiwan and China that led to the signing of four groundbreaking agreements to expand direct links across the Taiwan Strait.
“The shortened routes contribute greatly to the interaction between both jurisdictions,” said Fernando A. Solorzano, administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA).
“In terms of maritime aspects, (the signing of the four agreements) is a very positive development,” said Solorzano. “In that sense, we believe it’s very gratifying.”
“It also contributes more to world peace,” added Julio Mock Cardenas, ambassador of Panama in Taiwan. “We in Panama have always suggested to Taiwan that the best way to improve (cross-strait) relations is through mutual dialogue.”
Solorzano headed a delegation that was in Taipei City for a regional meeting of Panamanian consulates to discuss maritime issues, particularly for the development of a set of standards to modernize shipping registration methods, as well as to evaluate market strategies related to the maritime industry.
With nearly 20 percent of Panama’s gross domestic product (GDP) maritime-related, Panama’s shipping fleet is the largest in the world at almost 8,000 ships, remarked Solorzano.
The delegation also met with local authorities to further the exchange of ideas with local organizations such as the China Corporation Register of Shipping and the National Association of Chinese Shipowners.
Solorzano also said he would meet with officials from Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications to discuss collaborations in the areas of shipping, accident investigations, ship registration, as well as knowledge transfer and training, in order to further strengthen the ties between both maritime administrations.
“Taiwan and Panama share a common bond of friendship and cooperation that stems from old commercial ties,” noted Solorzano. “Taiwan and Panama relations are excellent, and have been that way for many years.”
Panama is among the oldest of the current 23 diplomatic allies of Taiwan, with official relations dating back to 1954.
Taiwan signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Panama which has been in effect since Jan. 1, 2004. The Taiwan-Panama FTA was Taiwan’s first FTA after it joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002.
According to the ambassador, before the Taiwan-Panama FTA, exports of Panamanian beef in 2003 amounted to 30 tons, whereas last year the same figure totaled 2,000 tons. Other major exports to Taiwan include scrap metal, noni, and shrimp, of which last year Taiwan imported some 1,000 tons from Panama.
In fact, bilateral trade figures starting from last year have been in favor of Panama, Mock pointed out.
“For many years even before the FTA was signed, Panama has offered its help to Taiwan with ship registrations, allowing Taiwan to enter many markets in the world,” remarked Solorzano.
“We have also engaged in the transfer of technical knowledge from Taiwan not just in terms of agricultural and commercial matters but also in the fishing industry,” added the former general director of the PMA’s Merchant Marine Department.
“We wish to reiterate our willingness to continue working with Taiwanese authorities to modernize and strengthen maritime service ties,” said Solorzano.
Established in 1998, the PMA is an autonomous state agency that manages, promotes, regulates, projects and assumes the strategies, norms, plans and programs that are related to the functioning and development of the maritime sector.
The PMA links the maritime competencies which till that date were managed by the National Port Authority, the Directorate General Consular and of Vessels, the Directorate General of Marine Resources under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, and the Nautical School of Panama.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:26 am TWN, By Erika Wang, The China Post
