BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Panama signed a joint communique Tuesday on the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting here with his Panamanian counterpart Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, also Panama's vice president, and they signed the joint communique.
According to the communique, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Panama, in keeping with the interests and desire of the two peoples, have decided to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level effective from the date of signature of this communique.
The two governments agree to develop friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence, the communique said.
The Government of the Republic of Panama recognizes that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, it said.
The government of the Republic of Panama severs "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan as of this day and undertakes not to have any more official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan, the communique said, adding that the Government of the People's Republic of China appreciates this position of the Government of the Republic of Panama.
