Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here鈥檚 the latest.
Chinese challenge in Panama.
The Panama Canal, built by the United States more than a century ago, has long been a linchpin of projecting influence and defending America鈥檚 interests in the Western Hemisphere. Now, the People鈥檚 Republic of China has its eyes on undermining the U.S.Panama relationship. Beijing鈥檚 chosen weapon for that assault is the 鈥渄ebt-trap diplomacy鈥 of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The BRI is a top priority of Chinese Communist Party Secretary-General Xi Jinping, who designed it to extend Chinese influence around the world. The Oxford Business Group reports BRI projects are currently underway in 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries. And Panama has been a focal point of that activity.
In 2018, Panama became the first Latin American country to sign a BRI compact. Even before that, as far back as the 1990s, China had begun positioning itself at either end of the Panama Canal by winning contracts to establish container ports run by Chinese state-owned companies.
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First 2020 pineapples from Panama arriving in China soon.
Pineapples from Panama will arrive in China in the coming days and officially start their sales in this market. Fruit is an important export product of Panama, and their pineapples, the second-largest export fruit after bananas from this country, are world-renowned.
In fact, as early as the end of 2018, China and Panama had signed the “Protocol of the General Administration of Customs of the People鈥檚 Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture Development of the Republic of Panama on Plant Quarantine Requirements for the Export of Fresh Pineapples from Panama to China鈥. With this, pineapples became the first fruit to gain access after being showcased at the Expo. In the second half of 2019, the first volumes were showcased at the Shanghai International Import Expo, leaving a good impression on the general public.
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Panama Resumes Reopening of Businesses and Places of Worship Amid COVID-19 Outbreak.
Panama is resuming the gradual reopening of businesses and places of worship after five months of lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
An elderly parishioner at the Iglesia del Carmen, in Panama City told the French News Press that she was overjoyed to have mass in person for the first time in five months.
On Monday, churches, hair salons, retail shops and car lots also reopened.
The hair salons and barbershops will operate with appointments only and at 50% of their capacity, as the country tries to reenergize the sluggish economy.
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Check out these can鈥檛-miss famous sites in Panama City!
Panama City has plenty of must-see landmarks and things to do, but getting to visit them all in one trip can be a challenge.
Whether it鈥檚 a taste of old world Panama in Casco, or a day spent at the majestic Miraflores Locks, there truly is something for every taste and every budget. So, when you plan your next trip to Panama City, it鈥檚 important to know what鈥檚 in store for you, and where you should go to get the most out of your time spent there. Here鈥檚 a quick list of five of the best must-see landmarks in and around Panama City:
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