Chinese president Xi Jinping to visit Panama in December

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make his first state visit to Panama on December 2, further expanding Central American ties which have sparked alarm from the United States.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang announced the planned visit on Friday.

The Panamanian presidency had declared the invitation a day earlier, announcing that Xi and Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela plan to sign about 20 agreements in areas such as commerce, technology and infrastructure.

The visit comes as the two countries have been deepening diplomatic and trade relations since Panama broke off ties with Taiwan, a strategic US partner, and opened its embassy in China last year.

In July, the countries opened free trade talks in what can further help Beijing increase its economic reach to the greater Latin American economic scene and rival US trade monopoly.

Washington has expressed concern over China’s growing Latin American ties, recalling top diplomats from Panama, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador in September for cutting ties with Taiwan.

On Tuesday, Xi also made a visit to the Philippines, another long-time US ally. The Chinese leader described his visit as "milestone", which is seen as yet another inroad into regions known to be traditionally dominated by US influence.

Beijing and Washington have been at odds over geopolitical and trade relations in recent years. 

SS