President Tsai Ing-wen participated in the Panama Canal expansion ceremony on June 26th. This is her first overseas visit of her presidency. President Tsai uses the occasion to interact with many heads of state. The economic activities between Panama and China are increasing, and that means Taiwan's diplomatic relations with Panama shows a warning sign. President Tsai urges for more civil investments to stabilize friendship of the two countries.

At the Panama Canal opening ceremony, Chinese container ship "Cosco Shipping Panama" was the first to cross the newly expanded waterway. The crowd was very excited.

President Tsai wears a white Guayabera given by the first lady of Panama, Lorena. During a group photo session, President Tsai had President Medina of Dominican Republic on her right, and President Cartes of Paraguay on her left. US Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill Biden, stood at the rear-left.

==ALEX HUANG, Presidential Office Spokesman==
Dr. Jill Biden walked into the VIP room and greeted everyone including President Tsai.

President Tsai conversed with President Medina of Dominican Republic and President Bachelet of Chile. She also talked and had a photo with Japan's House Representative Seishiro Eto. Chinese state business China Ocean Shipping Company is the second major client using the Panama Canal, but Chinese government did not send official to participate in the ceremony. In fact, President Tsai on this trip is to stabilize diplomatic relations with Panama, especially under the increasing Chinese influence on Panama. At President Tsai's visit to Evergreen's cargo dock at the Colon Free Zone, she hopes more civil investments could benefit both Taiwan and Panama.

==TSAI, ING-WEN, President of Taiwan==
I believe this honorary tradition of Evergreen Group will continue on both official and civil cooperation. That is to make Taiwan and Panama continue the goodwill and friendship.

==TIM CHANG, PTS Reporter==
President Tsai's first overseas trip after assuming office is to participate in the opening ceremony for the Panama Canal expansion. President Tsai is being arranged sitting on the first row with courtesy. The person who is standing and speaking is President Varela. Before President Tsai's departure set for tomorrow, she will have meeting with President Juan Carlos Varela in the President's Hall, and stabilize relations between Taiwan and Panama. This is PTS Reporters Tim Chang and Chih-jen Lin reporting from Panama.

TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN


巴拿馬運河拓寬竣工典禮，應邀出席的總統蔡英文穿著巴拿馬第一夫人羅蕾娜贈送的白色巴拿馬衫，大合照時蔡英文左手邊站的是多明尼加總統梅迪納，右手邊站的是巴拉圭總統卡提斯，美國副總統夫人吉兒拜登，則是站在蔡英文右後方，鏡頭前蔡英文和吉兒拜登沒有互動，但兩人會前已經打過招呼。

==總統府發言人 黃重諺==
拜登博士在進去
團長這貴賓室之後
他主動而熱情的
向所有現場的人打招呼
那也跟總統打招呼

這場活動的焦點中遠集團貨輪，雖然是巴拿馬運河第二大用戶國的中國國營企業，但中國方面並沒有特別派員越洋參加活動，而是由在地的中國巴拿馬貿易發展辦事處代表王衛華，以及中國國營的遠洋海運集團人員出席。

事實上蔡英文此行最大目的，就是要在中國對巴拿馬日增的影響力之下，穩固台巴邦交，蔡英文也在上午前往長榮巴拿馬箇郎貨櫃碼頭參訪時表示，希望透過民間投資，增加兩國之間的合作與邦誼。

==總統 蔡英文==
我相信有這樣光榮傳統
長榮集團一定會持續促進
台巴之間的官方跟民間的合作
讓台灣跟巴拿馬繼續當好朋友
繼續交往下去

記者 張志雄 林志堅 巴拿馬報導