The China Ocean Shipping Co. (COSCO) provided on Thursday a ship
engine room simulator to the International Maritime University of
Panama.
At a hand-over ceremony, Samuel Lewis, Panama's first vice
president and foreign minister, praised China for helping boost
education in Panama.
"The Chinese company COSCO has made a significant contribution
to Panamanian education, and especially to the maritime sector
which is vitally important for Panama," Navarro said.
He said that the simulator, which cost US$600,000, is an
extremely useful and high-tech education device.
Also present at the ceremony were Panama's Education Minister
Miguel Angel Canizales, Minister for Canal Affairs Ricaurte Vasquez
as well as COSCO vice president Zhan Liang.
At least 400 COSCO Group ships travel through the Panama Canal
each year.
(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2006)
