The 2018 Commercial Exhibition of China in Panama has opened at the Atlapa Convention Center in Panama City. 26 companies from China are participating, including ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing, China Communications Construction Company, automobile manufacturer BYD, Air China, and China Cosco Shipping Group.

China is currently the second largest trading partner of Panama. It's also the largest source of goods for the Colon Free Zone, from where most Chinese products are re-exported to nearby Latin American and Caribbean countries. The purpose of the trade fair is to create more opportunities for potential cooperation between China and Panama. 26 Chinese companies are taking part, seven of them in the Fortune Global 500.

WANG MIN, CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT XCMG CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY "We'd like to make full use of Panama's regional advantages, and cooperate with local agents and distributors to open the Central American market including Panama. There is still a demand for infrastructure construction for those countries and regions within the Belt and Road Initiative, including Africa and Latin America. So, I believe that machinery enterprises should have global strategical plans to meet the demand for Chinese industrial products in various countries and regions."

China and Panama have signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly promoting the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Panama is the first Latin American country to do so.  More than 40 Chinese enterprises have branch offices there, in fields including economy, civil aviation, tourism and education.