(VOVworld) – Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc visited the Republic of Panama to attend a political consultation meeting this week. This has been the first political consultation since the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on this mechanism in 2012, which was also in anticipation of the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties in August next year.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to increase visit exchanges, establish effective cooperative mechanisms, coordinate preparations for the 40^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and fine tune legal frameworks to facilitate the negotiations and signing of cooperative agreements in finance, investment and education. They also discussed regional and global issues of concern and pledged to support one another’s bid for membership at important UN agencies in the years to come and at multilateral forums. Panama’s leaders said Panama has been closely following developments in the East Sea and supports peaceful settlement of maritime disputes based on international law. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc expressed his hope that the Panama-Vietnam Friendship Association will continue to contribute to economic, trade, cultural, and tourism cooperation between the two countries.