Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino told Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in Hanoi on October 7 that Panama regards Vietnam as one of its leading partners in Southeast Asia and wants to deepen cooperation, especially in the economy, trade and investment.
Hung welcomed Mulino, his spouse and the Panamanian delegation. He said the official visit would give new momentum to relations between the two countries, which established diplomatic ties in 1975.
The two sides discussed implementing agreements reached during talks between To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and President Mulino. The countries have signed agreements covering security, agriculture, maritime and air transport, customs, tourism, education and training.
The Vietnamese prime minister proposed that the governments set clear areas of work, timelines and results for those agreements. He also called for more contact between state bodies, parliaments and civil society groups, stronger diplomatic and consular missions, use of the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation, and better market access for products from both countries.
Mulino said Panama was ready to help Vietnam reach markets and supply chains in the Americas through the Panama Canal, ports, airports, warehouses and logistics infrastructure. Panama also welcomes Vietnamese investment in infrastructure and cooperation in agriculture and processing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and skilled-worker training.
The two governments agreed to continue negotiations on air transport, investment protection, security, justice and law enforcement. They also backed cultural, tourism and educational exchanges.
Mulino invited Hung to make an official visit to Panama. The prime minister accepted the invitation and asked the two foreign ministries to agree on a date.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
