Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on the 23rd that China will continue to respect Panama's sovereignty over the canal and recognize it as a permanently neutral international waterway. At the regular press conference that day, a reporter asked: What is China's comment on President elect Trump's statement that the Panama Canal is an important national asset of the United States and that he is threatening to "reclaim" it? Mao Ning stated that Panamanian President Mulino has made a public statement on this matter, emphasizing that every inch of land in the Panama Canal and surrounding areas belongs to Panama, and that the sovereignty and independence of Panama cannot be discussed. Canal tolls are not arbitrarily determined. The canal is not directly or indirectly controlled by any major country. The Panama Canal is a great creation of the Panamanian people and a 'golden waterway' that promotes connectivity among countries around the world Mao Ning said that China has always supported the just struggle of the Panamanian people to safeguard the sovereignty of the canal. As early as the 1960s, large-scale marches were held throughout China to actively support the Panamanian people's struggle to regain sovereignty over the canal area. Mao Ning stated that China will continue to respect Panama's sovereignty over the canal and recognize it as a permanently neutral international waterway. It is believed that under the efficient management of the Palestinian side, the Panama Canal will continue to make new contributions to the promotion of people to people exchanges and human well-being. (New Society)