China and Panama are natural partners on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) because Panama's development is based on connectivity, said Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

He made the remarks in a signed article which was published in a Panamanian newspaper on Friday ahead of his state visit to the country. 

In the article, Xi pointed out his upcoming visit to Panama would be the first for him and any Chinese president. 

Noting that the China-Panama friendship has lasted over 160 years, Xi called the decision for China and Panama to establish diplomatic ties last June a significant event for both countries. 

Over the past one-and-half year, the bilateral relationship has grown from strength to strength and brought tangible benefits to people from both sides, Xi emphasized. 

In the article, the Chinese president said Panama was the first country in the Latin American and Caribbean region to sign a memorandum of understanding on the BRI with China. 

China is willing to reinforce the strategic coordination with Panama to benefit the people of both countries better, Xi said. 

He thus put forth four proposals to bring the two countries closer, including understanding and supporting each other's core interests and major concerns, working together to build a new type of international relationship and a community with a shared future for humanity, and striving for an open global economy. 

The proposals also include making the BRI the center of their collaboration and a call for more exchanges in various fields to enhance China-Panama friendship. 

The Chinese president is scheduled to pay a state visit to the Caribbean nation on December 3, after his trip to Argentina for the Group of 20 (G20) Summit and a state visit there.