The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, and the elected President of Chile, José Antonio Kast, agreed to relaunch bilateral relations. Both leaders highlighted the historical ties and the strategic role of Chile as the fourth largest user of the Panama Canal. 'The unity of Chile and Panama is of great importance; you are our clients in that enormous relationship that exists with the Canal,' Mulino emphasized. He also noted that the new commercial strategy gains greater relevance with Panama's recent accession to Mercosur. Kast, in turn, highlighted his determination to strengthen trade exchange and move from the fourth to the third largest user of the canal. 'We are resuming our relations with a determined effort to reinforce trade exchange and we want to go from being the fourth to the third user of the Canal, entering new markets in Europe, the Middle East and others, with all our products that pass through Panama,' he stated. Both leaders agreed on the need for a united and coherent America to face the geopolitical, commercial, and technological challenges of the current era. The meeting, held at the Palace of the Herons, was attended by delegations from the foreign affairs, trade and industry, security, and economy and finance ministries of both countries. 'We must prioritize issues with a vision for the future,' they added. During the meeting, an agreement was reached to establish a binational commission with permanent working tables. These tables will address key issues such as economy, education, trade, and security, with the aim of developing initiatives that generate well-being for the peoples of both nations.
