Now for a look at China-Panama trade ties.

Panama is China's eighth largest trading partner and fifth exports destination country in Latin America. Bilateral trade totaled 6.5 billion dollars in 2016. Ninety percent of China-Panama trade transits to other Latin America countries through the Colon Free Trade Zone. Chinese investment in Panama is mainly in the fields of sea shipping, trade, telecommunications and finance. About 30 Chinese companies have operations in Panama while 70 private Chinese companies trade in the Colon Free Zone. The Panamanian government said last month that it will streamline visa procedures for Chinese and visa application fees will be no more than 50 dollars. It's expected that China and Panama will sign more than 20 cooperation agreements during the Panamanian president's trip to China.