The President of Panama and his spouse will pay an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse.
The official visit by Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and his spouse will take place from October 5 to 8, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Vietnam and Panama established diplomatic relations on August 28, 1975. Panama was among the first Latin American nations to recognize the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Last year, the two countries collaborated to organize activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Vietnam-Panama relations have continued to strengthen and develop in recent times, characterized by the promotion of high-level visits when conditions permit, the maintenance of the Joint Commission on economic, trade, and investment cooperation, and the fostering of bilateral trade and investment through promotional activities and business delegation exchanges. Cooperation has also been enhanced in areas such as maritime transport, agriculture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
Panama consistently ranks among Vietnam's top 10 trading partners in Latin America. According to Customs data, bilateral trade turnover reached 478.1 million USD, an increase of 19.2% compared to the previous year. Of this total, exports to Panama amounted to 462.6 million USD (up 18.42%), while imports reached 15.5 million USD (up 48.14%).
Over the past five decades, the two sides have regularly coordinated and supported each other at the United Nations and other international forums while simultaneously promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Panama serves as a vital gateway for Vietnamese goods to access markets in Central America and the Caribbean.