Hanoi, October 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: Vietnam and Panama have agreed to further deepen bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation while leveraging their respective geographical advantages to strengthen connectivity between East Asia and Latin America.
The agreement was reached during talks between Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and President of Panama José Raúl Mulino in Hanoi on Tuesday, held as part of the Panamanian president’s official visit to Vietnam.
Tô Lâm said the talks took place in a friendly, open and trusting atmosphere, with the two sides exchanging views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern.
The leaders noted that Vietnam-Panama relations had continued to develop positively, supported by high-level visits, contacts and cooperation mechanisms. Bilateral trade reached nearly US$500 million in 2025, while both sides agreed that significant potential remains for expanding cooperation, particularly in trade, investment and services.
The two countries agreed to promote cooperation in economic and trade activities, investment, agriculture, port logistics, finance and banking, tourism, transport and other areas where they possess complementary strengths.
They also agreed to continue negotiations on agreements related to investment protection, aviation and other fields in order to establish a more favourable legal framework for expanding bilateral cooperation.
A key focus of the discussions was the effective use of the two countries’ geo-economic advantages to enhance connectivity in transportation, logistics, financial flows and supply chains between East Asia and Latin America. The leaders said such connectivity could create new opportunities for businesses from both countries.
Tô Lâm affirmed that Vietnam was ready to work closely with Panama to effectively implement the outcomes of President Mulino’s visit, better utilise the potential and strengths of both sides and elevate bilateral relations to a level commensurate with their potential.
In multilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to continue coordinating and supporting each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, while maintaining consultations on regional and international issues of shared concern.
They reaffirmed the importance of upholding international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as supporting freedom and safety of navigation and overflight and the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, particularly the UN Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
An important outcome of President Mulino’s visit was the adoption of a joint statement outlining orientations, objectives, principles and key areas of cooperation for Vietnam-Panama relations in the coming period.
The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges through diplomatic channels, promote parliamentary and people-to-people diplomacy, and facilitate businesses’ access to each other’s markets and greater participation in regional and global supply chains.
Tô Lâm expressed his belief that President Mulino’s visit would provide fresh momentum for implementing bilateral agreements, unlocking the potential and strengths of both countries and making cooperation between Vietnam and Panama more substantive, effective and commensurate with their capabilities.
Panama seeks to become gateway for Vietnamese businesses
President José Raúl Mulino said that despite the geographical distance separating Panama and Vietnam, the two peoples had maintained a relationship of friendship and solidarity for more than five decades.
He stressed that expanding and diversifying Panama’s international relations was important, describing Vietnam as a key partner in Southeast Asia.
Economic relations featured prominently in the discussions, with Mulino highlighting Vietnam’s impressive industrial and export capabilities.
He said Panama sought to serve as a gateway for Vietnamese industries to access markets across Latin America and the Caribbean. He encouraged Vietnamese companies to utilise Panama’s strategic advantages to establish a presence in the country and expand into regional markets.
The two leaders also discussed agriculture, connectivity, tourism, maritime cooperation and other areas where their capabilities could complement each other.
Mulino said the two countries aimed to create more favourable conditions for businesses and producers to explore new markets, thereby reducing the impact of the considerable geographical distance between Vietnam and Panama.
During the visit, Vietnam and Panama signed agreements covering security, maritime transport and agriculture. Mulino described the agreements as important steps forward, stressing that the next priority was to translate them into concrete projects and practical results that would bring tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Panama, he said, wanted to move closer to Vietnam, strengthen its presence in Asia and open new avenues for trade, investment and cooperation between the two peoples.
