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)