The agreement was reached during talks on Tuesday between General Secretary and President To Lam and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from October 5 to 8.
Party leader and President Lam highlighted Panama’s dynamic economy and its strategic advantages as the home of the Panama Canal and a major regional hub for maritime transport, aviation, logistics and finance. He said the two countries can work together to serve as trade and logistics gateways between Southeast Asia and Latin America.
He expressed confidence that Vietnam and Panama will make more effective use of their potential for cooperation in trade, agriculture, maritime transport, aviation, logistics and digital transformation, making bilateral ties more substantive, effective and sustainable.
President José Raúl Mulino thanked Vietnam for being the first country to sign the Protocol on the Permanent Neutrality of the Panama Canal in 1979. He said Panama considers Vietnam a top priority partner in the Asia-Pacific and is ready to serve as a gateway connecting Vietnam with Latin American economies.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen diplomatic and consular representation in each country and expand cooperation in agriculture, telecommunications, infrastructure, transport, port logistics, banking, tourism, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.
They also agreed to promote cooperation between localities, including Ho Chi Minh City and Panama City, to share experience and support each other in developing financial centers linked to seaports, logistics and bonded warehouses.
The same day, General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse hosted a state banquet in Hanoi the same day in honor of President Mulino and his spouse.
Addressing the banquet, General Secretary and President To Lam said: "The relations between our two countries and peoples have been built on sincerity and mutual respect, giving them enduring vitality. Looking back over more than half a century, we can be proud of what Vietnam and Panama have built together. Looking ahead, I’m confident that we can achieve even more. Let Panama continue to be a bridge bringing Vietnam closer to Latin America and the Caribbean. Let Vietnam be a bridge bringing Panama closer to Southeast Asia. And let the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples continue to serve as the foundation for opening up new opportunities for the benefit of our peoples, and for peace, cooperation and development in both regions."
President José Raúl Mulino expressed confidence that the two countries can tap further potential for cooperation. He affirmed that Panama’s doors are always open to Vietnam and pledged to strengthen bilateral relations in all areas.
