Detention of Panama-flagged ships in China has begun to decrease, says President Mulino

The ​detention of Panamanian-flagged ‌vessels in ​Chinese ports has begun to decrease, ‌Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said on Thursday. In April, the Panamanian ‌government denounced an increase ‌in inspections and detentions of ships flying the Central American country's flag at ⁠Chinese ​maritime ⁠terminals, amid tension between the two nations ⁠over the withdrawal of the ​concession of two ports in Panama ⁠to the local unit of ⁠Hong ​Kong's CK Hutchison.

In a weekly press conference, Mulino called ⁠the development a "big step to lower ⁠tensions."