Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday rejected suggestions that US pressure had shaped his government’s handling of a dispute over ports near the Panama Canal, as Panama seeks to stabilise relations with Beijing and renew a key maritime agreement.

Mulino also expressed hope that tensions with Beijing could ease following talks this week in New York between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha, which he described as a “transcendental step”.

The diplomatic outreach comes amid one of the most serious strains in China-Panama relations since the two countries established ties in 2017, driven by a dispute over the operation of ports near the strategically vital canal and growing pressure from Washington over Beijing’s regional influence.

“China has always maintained that China-Panama relations are not directed against any third party and should not be interfered with by any third party,” Wang said, according to a foreign ministry read-out released on Wednesday.

Wang also said Beijing was willing to deepen cooperation with Panama and “eliminate external interference”. Martinez-Acha, according to the Chinese read-out, told Wang that Panama was prepared to resolve differences through dialogue and build stronger mutual trust.