Vietnam and Panama are poised to bolster their bilateral relations and enhance cooperation during the official visit of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino to Vietnam from October 5 to 8. This visit aims to expand economic and trade ties, with a focus on key areas such as agriculture, telecommunications, infrastructure, maritime transport, port logistics, banking, tourism, and education.
Both countries have maintained diplomatic relations since 1975, strengthening their partnership through high-level exchanges and diplomatic consultations. They are exploring the potential to leverage their strategic geographic locations to connect Southeast Asian and Latin American markets more effectively.
Economic cooperation is a primary focus, as evidenced by the bilateral trade volume, which reached approximately $478.1 million in 2025, marking a 19.2% increase from the previous year. Vietnam’s exports to Panama include footwear, electronics, textiles, vehicles, and seafood, while it imports timber, seafood, and raw materials from Panama.
Panama’s strategic position along the Panama Canal plays a significant role in global shipping and logistics, presenting opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to access Central American and Caribbean markets more readily. The upcoming visit is anticipated to result in new agreements and initiatives to further broaden trade, investment, and cooperation across various sectors.
Both nations are also expected to reinforce existing mechanisms for political and economic collaboration, paving the way for a more robust partnership in the future.