LIMA, 16 April 2018:
Panama is considering building a passenger train to Costa Rica with China – a project that would require an initial investment of US$5 billion, Panama’s president said in an interview, a sign of the Asian country’s growing interest in Latin America.
President Juan Carlos Varela said Panama is promoting infrastructure investment in general and will also auction off a third metro line, with an expected US$4 billion investment requirement.
China has become more involved in Latin America as the US, under president Donald Trump, has taken a more protectionist stance on trade.
“We are doing with China a feasibility study of a 450km train between Panama and the border of Costa Rica,” Varela said on the sidelines of the Americas Summit in Lima on Friday evening.
Varela also said he expected a US$6 billion copper mine under construction by Australia’s First Quantum Minerals to start producing next year, adding 2.5% to Panama’s gross domestic product.
In reference to the US-China trade dispute, Varela said if any country wanted to renegotiate trade agreements, it should do so without generating conflict. Panama welcomed investment from all countries, he said.
– Reuters