Vietnam, Panama Vow to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation Across Multiple Sectors

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Tô Lâm held talks with President of Panama José Raúl Mulino in Hanoi on Tuesday, following an official welcome ceremony for the Panamanian leader.

The talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, maritime affairs, aviation, logistics, telecommunications, infrastructure, banking, tourism, culture, education and digital transformation.

President Tô Lâm highlighted the significance of President Mulino’s visit, which marked the first visit by a head of state between the two countries in 14 years. He said Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional friendship with Panama and noted Panama’s strategic role in the region and internationally.

Tô Lâm said Panama, with its dynamic economy, the Panama Canal and major maritime, aviation, logistics and financial hubs, could work with Vietnam as a gateway for trade and logistics between Southeast Asia and Latin America.

President Mulino expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s role as the first country to sign the Protocol to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal in 1979. He also congratulated Vietnam on its achievements over more than four decades of Đổi mới (Renewal) and described Vietnam as a priority partner for Panama in the Asia-Pacific region.

Both leaders agreed to further promote high-level exchanges through Party, State, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, while strengthening diplomatic and consular cooperation and making effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms, including political consultations and the Joint Commission for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation.

The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation between their localities, including Ho Chi Minh City and Panama City, particularly in developing financial centres linked with seaports, logistics facilities and bonded warehouses.

They stressed the importance of stronger cooperation in security and law enforcement, including efforts to prevent and combat transnational crime.

On international and multilateral issues, Vietnam and Panama agreed to continue coordinating and supporting each other at international organisations and forums. They reaffirmed the importance of international law and the UN Charter, while supporting freedom and safety of navigation and overflight and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

President Mulino invited President Tô Lâm to pay a state visit to Panama. The Vietnamese leader welcomed the invitation and asked the two countries’ foreign ministries to coordinate arrangements for the visit at a suitable time.

The talks were held during President Mulino’s official visit to Vietnam from October 5 to 8, 2026. During the visit, the two countries also witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents covering maritime transport, combating transnational crime, agriculture and tourism.