Vietnam wants to boost multi-faceted cooperation with Panama: Party official

Vietnam always wishes to enhance the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Panama, Phan Dinh Trac, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs, affirmed during his visit to the Latin American country.

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac (R) meets with Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela. (Photo: VNA)
Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac (R) meets with Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela. (Photo: VNA)

Trac, who is also deputy head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, lead a Party delegation to visit Panama from June 30 to July 3.

During his stay in Panama, the official met with President Juan Carlos Varela and Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo, and held talks with President of the Panamenista Party (PAN) Jose Luis Varela and Secretary General of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) Pedro Miguel Gonzalez. He also had working sessions with representatives from several anti-corruption agencies of Panama.

At these meetings, Trac briefed his hosts on Vietnam’s situation as well as achievements the country has recorded during the reform cause initiated and led by the CPV over the past 30 years.

He reiterated Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, peace, cooperation and development; multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, being a friend and a reliable and responsible partner of the international community; and active integration into the world.

He stressed that Panama is one of the first Latin American countries to back Vietnam’s bid to join the World Trade Organisation and run for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2008-2009, as well as to recognise the country’s market economy status.

Panama also backs Vietnam’s membership in the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council of the UN, he said.

Trac spoke highly of the development of the relationship between Vietnam and Panama, as well as their close coordination and mutual support at many multilateral forums and international organisations.

President Juan Carlos Varela and leaders of PAN and PRD expressed their special sentiments towards Vietnamese people, and their admiration for Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation and reunification.

Lauding Vietnam’s reform achievements, the Panamanian leaders proposed concrete measures to reinforce the bilateral ties, especially in economy, trade and investment, and cooperation with the CPV in the time ahead.

The two sides agreed to intensify the exchange of all-level Party delegations, maintain bilateral consultation mechanisms, and join hands to seek ways to expand bilateral trade, and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

While in Panama, Trac also visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Panama.