Japan-Panama Relations
Brief conversation between Foreign Minister MOTEGI and Foreign Minister Martinez-Acha at the airport, and visit to the Panama Canal
August 4, 2026
- On August 4, commencing at 2:00 p.m. local time (4:00 a.m. Japan time on August 5), Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Panama, was welcomed by H.E. Mr. Javier MARTINEZ-ACHA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama, at Tocumen International Airport and held a brief conversation.
- Subsequently, commencing at 3:45 p.m. local time (5:45 a.m. Japan time on August 5), Minister MOTEGI visited the Panama Canal, for approximately 30 minutes, accompanied by H.E. Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez, Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority. During the visit, Minister MOTEGI received briefings from relevant officials and toured related facilities, including the Cocolí Locks. Minister MOTEGI observed heavily laden Japanese vessels bound for Asia transiting the Panama Canal.
(Reference) Panama Canal
The Panama Canal, which opened in 1914, is a waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, with a total length of 80 kilometers. Japan is the third largest user of the Canal in the world, and has contributed in various ways to the safe and smooth operation of the Canal, including through the involvement of Japanese engineers in its construction prior to its opening and the long-standing use of towing vehicles made in Japan. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) extended a loan of 800 million U.S. dollars to the Canal expansion project, which was completed in 2016.