Vietnam, Panama seek to deepen all-round partnership
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held talks with his Panamanian counterpart Érika Mouynes in Hanoi on April 5 to discuss ways to strengthen partnership between the two countries in all fields including politics, diplomacy, economy and bilateral coordination at international and multilateral forums.
The two FMs expressed their wish to promote bilateral cooperation in promosing areas such as maritime transport, climate change response, and renewable energy.
They agreed on the viewpoint of settling international disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law.
They shared their delight at the growing ties between Vietnam and Panama, especially through the implementation of cooperation mechanisms. They concurred to continue to effectively promote the deputy ministeral level political consultation and Joint Committee on economic, trade and investment cooperation mechanisms, as well as face-to-face and online meetings between the two countries.
Vietnam and Panama have seen positive results in economic partnership, with Panama always being among Vietnam's 10 biggest trading partners in Latin America. Two-way trade between the two countries has risen from US$250 million in 2014 to US$467 million in 2021. Particularly, trade between the two countries surged 45.5% year on year in 2021 despite COVID-19 impacts.
FM Son proposed that Panama support the protection of the interests of Vietnamese citizens living, studying and working in Panama, and effectively coordinate to make the country a transit place for Vietnamese products in the Latin American region. Vietnam will acts as a bridge for Panamanian products to enter the Southeast Asian market, he added.
Son affirmed that Vietnam is keen on bolstering the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation with Panama in a substantive and effective manner.
For her part, Minister Mouynes spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in implementing the “Doi moi” (Renewal) process, saying that the Panamanian Government always treasures and hopes to strengthen ties with Vietnam.
She agreed that the two countries continue to work closely together to reinforce bilateral cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, for benefits of the two countries' people, and for peace, stability and development in the two regions and the world as a whole.
The same day, the Panamanian FM met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh who hoped Panama would become a bridge for Vietnamese products to reach the Latin American market, and pledged that Vietnam will serve as a gateway for Panama to enter Southeast Asia.
Both sides should focus on strengthening cooperation in transport, logistics, making full use of the canals and ports of Panama as well as the position of Vietnam - one of the 20 economies with largest trade scale in the world - in the global supply chain, Chinh said.