Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian reacted to the US irresponsible statements on the Panama Canal, saying that such statements deliberately distort cooperation and that China strongly opposes this situation. China has made serious diplomatic overtures to the US side, Lin added.This comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to take back ownership of the Panama Canal, claiming that China’s control and influence over the canal violates international neutrality. Following Trump’s allegations, Panama announced that it would not renew its cooperation agreement with China under the Belt and Road Initiative. Lin Jian emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative, launched in 2013, has expanded in line with the principles of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, and has become a popular cooperation platform with wide international participation. Over the past ten years, the parties have achieved fruitful results under this initiative and contributed to the economic and social progress of the countries concerned, he said. At present, cooperation between China and Panama under the Belt and Road Initiative is continuing on a normal course and has achieved fruitful results, Lin said, hoping that the parties concerned can enhance trust, resist external interference, and make correct decisions in view of the overall situation of bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the peoples of the two countries.
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