President Ma Ying-jeou arrived at Tocumen International Airport in the Republic of Panama at 4:00 p.m. on June 30 local time (5:00 a.m., July 1, Taipei time). After his aircraft came to a halt, ROC Ambassador to Panama S.Y. Ko boarded the plane to welcome President and Mrs. Ma and escort them off the plane. Panama's incoming Vice Minister of Foreign Relations Melitón Arrocha was standing next to the plane and welcomed President and Mrs. Ma, and then escorted them to the dais where a formal welcoming ceremony was held. After the national anthems of the two nations were played, President Ma delivered brief remarks.
Vice Minister Arrocha then escorted President and Mrs. Ma down a red carpet. After receiving salutes from the color guard, they retreated to a guest room at the airport where they exchanged greetings. President and Mrs. Ma then boarded a car that took them to their hotel. Upon arriving at the hotel, President and Mrs. Ma received a warm welcome by overseas compatriots living in Panama, ROC embassy staff and family members, as well as teachers and students from the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center (Sun Yat-sen Institute). They also received bouquets of flowers from students at the school and were treated to a twin lion dance.
After a short rest, President Ma met with Panama President-elect Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal.