China on Friday regretted Panama’s decision to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative after the US Secretary of State visited the Central American country.

China strongly opposes the US resorting to pressure and coercion to undermine and disregard cooperation,’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a media briefing, adding, ‘We deeply regret Panama’s announcement that it will not renew its memorandum of understanding with China in the Belt and Road Initiative.