Panamanian Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Aleman said on Saturday his country is proud of Chinese investments in its interoceanic canal.

He also rejected concerns expressed by the United States. The United States will give the Panama Canal back to Panama this month.

Aleman made these statements after some Republican US congressmen said China pretends to own the Panama Canal through investments of the Hong Kong Hutchinson Port Company. "We feel very proud because a company of that level has decided to invest in Panama. We wish five more like this one would come to work in our country, because we still have many areas for development,'' Aleman told the press.

"The Hutchinson company is an international firm whose shares are quoted in the London Stock Exchange. If the United States is afraid, it can buy the firm's stock and take control of the company," said Aleman.

The Hutcinson Hong Kong company administers the Balboa and Cristobal ports at the canal's entrances.

Aleman said the Hong Kong firm won a bid for these two main Panamanian ports. The bid was awarded legally, he said.

"It has to be considered that (the US legislators' objections) emerge mainly as a trade controversy, which became political afterwards, because of the electoral climate in the United States,'' said Aleman.

The US Government has not questioned the presence of the Hong Kong enterprise in Panamanian territory, said Aleman.

The United States will hand over the Canal to Panama and will withdraw troops no later than December 31. (Xinhua)