Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Tsai Ing-wen met on the afternoon of June 14 with a delegation led by Jose Ayu Prado Canals, the president of the Supreme Court of Panama. President Tsai expressed hope that Taiwan and Panama can conduct more exchanges regarding judicial reform and mutual assistance, and that bilateral cooperation will become closer and more frequent.

In remarks, President Tsai mentioned that Panamanian First Lady Lorena Isabel Castillo de Varela visited Taiwan this past May to attend the inauguration ceremony for herself and Vice President Chen Chien-jen. The fact that Mr. Ayu Prado has come for a visit less than a month later stands as testimony to the two countries' close ties and solid friendship.

President Tsai pointed out that Mr. Ayu Prado visited Taiwan once before during his tenure as Panama's attorney general, and since becoming a Supreme Court justice in 2012 has been pushing for judicial reform and fighting corruption. President Tsai stated that her administration has identified judicial reform as an important task so that the people can enjoy the protection of the law, and the judicial system can stand up for social justice. Noting that Mr. Ayu Prado will be interacting with Judicial Yuan President Rai Hau-min (賴浩敏), the Supreme Court, and the Taipei District Court during this trip, President Tsai expressed hope that Taiwan and Panama can engage in more experience exchanges on issues of judicial reform and mutual assistance.

President Tsai remarked that Mr. Ayu Prado has maintained very close ties with Taiwan's embassy to Panama as well as the Taiwanese expatriate community in Panama, and stated that Substitute Magistrate Efren Tello Cubilla and Director Danilo Montenegro Acevedo, both present at the meeting, are outstanding legal professionals who have contributed greatly to Panama's justice system and social justice. Hopefully, she said, the friendship between the visitors and Taiwan can continue to progress based on solid existing foundations.

Commenting on bilateral relations, the president noted that Taiwan and Panama have signed a treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons, thus launching substantive judicial cooperation and mutual assistance between the two countries. This bears important significance for bilateral relations.

President Tsai offered congratulations for the upcoming completion on June 26 of the Panama Canal Expansion, and stated that, once it begins operating, the expanded canal will boost Panama's development in all aspects. She also expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries will increase and become closer, so as to promote bilateral exchanges and relations.