This is the first visit to Viet Nam by a Panamanian head of state in 14 years, marking an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations and laying a solid foundation for promoting ties between the two countries in the new period.
The path of cooperation between Viet Nam and Panama began when the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975. Although geographically distant, Viet Nam and Panama share close sentiments and a common aspiration for peace, independence, and sustainable development. Over the past more than half a century, Viet Nam-Panama relations have been maintained and developed on the basis of friendship, mutual respect, and mutually beneficial cooperation. The friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries have been nurtured through visits, cooperation agreements, and coordination at numerous international forums.
The two sides regularly exchange delegations, maintain cooperation mechanisms, and coordinate at multilateral forums. Political and diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Panama have remained stable and reliable. Bilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as the political consultation between the two foreign ministries and the Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation, have operated effectively. Regular exchanges of delegations at all levels and close coordination at international organisations, particularly the United Nations, have contributed to enhancing the position of each country on the international stage.
Viet Nam is strategically located in Southeast Asia and enjoys extensive economic relations with ASEAN countries and the Asia-Pacific region. Panama is strategically located in Central America, serving as a bridge between North and South America, while also playing an important role in international maritime, logistics, and trade networks.
Building on these advantages, Viet Nam serves as Panama’s gateway to ASEAN and the Asian market, while Panama serves as a gateway for Viet Nam to access the Central American and Latin American markets. In this role, economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries is regarded as an important pillar. The two sides have supported each other’s businesses in exploring and accessing markets and seeking opportunities in highly promising fields such as logistics, seaports, tropical agricultural products, fisheries, textiles, and renewable energy.
Two-way trade between Viet Nam and Panama has maintained steady growth, rising from 251.3 million USD in 2014 to 474 million USD in 2025, up 19% compared with 2024, with many complementary import and export products. The two countries also have great potential to expand comprehensive cooperation in such areas as agriculture, telecommunications, infrastructure, maritime transport, aviation, port logistics, banking, education and training, and green energy.
Viet Nam and Panama can make full use of the advantages offered by the Panama Canal as a bridge to enable goods from the two countries to penetrate more deeply into markets in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, thereby ensuring international supply chain security.
Panama attaches importance to promoting and strengthening its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam, effectively implementing existing cooperation mechanisms, and seeks to strengthen relations with ASEAN countries and the Asia-Pacific region through Viet Nam. Attaching importance to promoting substantive relations with Panama — a traditional friend and high-potential partner — Viet Nam stands ready to expand cooperation in all areas in which the two sides have strengths and can complement each other. Through Panama, Viet Nam seeks to strengthen relations with Central America and expand the scope and space for development to enhance cooperative relations with the Latin American region.
Building on the foundations cultivated over more than half a century, Viet Nam-Panama cooperative relations are well positioned to embark on a new phase of development. The official visit to Viet Nam by the President of Panama and his spouse is a concrete step in implementing the foreign policy set out by the 14th National Party Congress to strengthen and promote relations between Viet Nam and Latin American countries. With shared determination and efforts, Viet Nam-Panama friendship and cooperation are presented with new opportunities to develop in an increasingly substantive and effective manner.
