Today, Vice President Biden called President-elect of Panama Juan Carlos Varela to congratulate him on his victory. The Vice President reaffirmed the historic ties between the United States and Panama, and reiterated our commitment to work as partners in advancing shared goals, including promoting economic prosperity, security, and greater regional integration in Central America. The Vice President congratulated the Panamanian people for demonstrating their commitment to democratic values through a free, fair, and transparent election process. The Vice President also underscored the importance of developing a robust agenda for the upcoming 2015 Summit of the Americas to be held in Panama.