Viet Nam, Panama issue Joint Statement

1. At the invitation of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam To Lam and his Spouse, the President of the Republic of Panama, José Raúl Mulino Quintero, and his Spouse paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from October 5 to 8, 2026.

2. Within the framework of the visit, President José Raúl Mulino Quintero attended the official welcome ceremony, held talks, and attended an official banquet hosted by General Secretary and President To Lam; met with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man; attended and addressed the Viet Nam - Panama Business Forum; received representative businesses; and visited several cultural and historical sites in Ha Noi.

3. On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam and President José Raúl Mulino Quintero issued a Joint Statement and witnessed the exchange and signing of bilateral cooperation documents, including: the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation; the Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Transnational Crime; the Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation; the Memorandum of Understanding on Customs Cooperation; the Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation between the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism and the Panama Tourism Authority; the Memorandum of Understanding between the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam and the Civil Aviation Authority of Panama; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP); the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the two Diplomatic Academies; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Viet Nam Maritime University and the International Maritime University of Panama; and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) and the Agricultural Innovation Institute of Panama (IDIAP).

4. In an atmosphere of cordial friendship, General Secretary and President To Lam and President José Raúl Mulino Quintero underscored the importance and significance of the visit, marking the second time a Head of State of the Republic of Panama has paid an official visit to Viet Nam since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the traditional friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Panama, laying the groundwork and charting the course for a new phase of bilateral relations on the occasion of the 51st founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (August 28, 1975 – August 28, 2026).

President José Raúl Mulino Quintero acknowledged and expressed deep appreciation for Viet Nam being the first country to sign the Protocol to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal (1979); congratulating the State and people of Viet Nam on the great achievements made during 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation). The Panamanian President affirmed that Panama considers Viet Nam a top priority partner in the Asia-Pacific region. General Secretary and President To Lam expressed gratitude for the solidarity and support that the people of Panama extended to Viet Nam during its past struggle for national liberation as well as in its present cause of national construction and development.

General Secretary and President To Lam congratulated Panama on its socio-economic achievements and highly commended Panama's peaceful, neutral, and open foreign policy, affirming that Viet Nam regards Panama as a traditional friend and a highly potential partner in the region, and wishes to strengthen multi-faceted cooperation for the development of both nations.

6. The two sides also exchanged views on recent developments, their respective development visions and policies for the coming period, directions and measures to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation across all fields, and shared perspectives on regional and international issues of shared concern.

General Secretary and President To Lam and President José Raúl Mulino Quintero expressed satisfaction with the positive growth of the traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries in recent years; shared the assessment that ample potential remains for expanding cooperation for mutual development. The two Leaders agreed to continue consolidating and deepening existing sound political ties, while broadening and elevating the efficiency of cooperation in all areas, particularly in economy, trade, and investment, so as to generate greater economic value and harmonize national interests with sustainable development goals.

7. The two Leaders agreed to step up high-level dialogue to guide the advancement of Viet Nam - Panama relations through bilateral visits and exchanges between senior Leaders of the State, Government, National Assembly, and ministries of both countries; effectively leverage the Political Consultation mechanism between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, and Investment Cooperation; emphasize the importance of enhancing cooperation between political parties, legislative and judicial bodies, localities, and people-to-people exchanges, thereby reinforcing the political foundation, mutual trust, and understanding; and promote exchanges to consolidate and bolster legal frameworks and mechanisms for bilateral cooperation, as well as foster tourism, culture, and people-to-people ties.

8. General Secretary and President To Lam and President José Raúl Mulino Quintero noted the positive growth in economic, trade, and investment relations between Viet Nam and Panama; agreed to direct relevant authorities to advance trade and investment promotion, facilitate business linkages, and enable enterprises of both countries to access each other's markets and integrate deeper into regional and global supply chains, while continuing to diversify export-import structures and facilitate bilateral trade and investment. Emphasizing the geo-economic positions of Viet Nam and Panama in East Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, the two Leaders encouraged government agencies and businesses of both nations to establish partnerships and business investments in maritime transport, aviation, logistics and bonded warehouses, insurance, and finance. The Leaders agreed to promote negotiations on an Agreement on Investment Encouragement and Protection, an Agreement on the Exchange and Protection of Classified Information, and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Ha Noi University and the Metropolitan University of Education, Science and Technology of Panama.

9. The Leaders of the two countries also emphasized the potential to expand business cooperation in agriculture, renewable energy, maritime affairs, aviation, logistics, banking and finance, innovation, telecommunications, digital transformation, marine environment protection, and climate change adaptation. They expressed keen interest in broadening cooperation in science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, education, culture, sports, and tourism.

10. Both sides affirmed their resolve to strengthen cooperation in combating transnational crime, organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, cybercrime, and emerging crime types; enhance information exchange, share experience, and improve law enforcement capacity in accordance with each country's laws and international treaties to which both are signatories. Both sides will double effort to promote the early entry into force and effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (the Ha Noi Convention), and promote bilateral cooperation in multilateral forums on cybersecurity and cybercrime prevention to which both are members.

11. The two Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting multilateralism with the central role of the United Nations, respecting international law, and bolstering cooperation and mutual support at global and inter-regional mechanisms of which both are members, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The two Leaders shared the view that a globalized world demands an open mindset toward international trade and cultural exchange. Globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution serve as powerful drivers of innovation, development, and connectivity among regions worldwide, while solidifying stable relations among institutions and organizations.

12. Both sides highly valued the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in maintaining peace, cooperation, and development in the Asia-Pacific region; agreed to maintain exchanges of cooperative experience and support each other in strengthening ties with international, inter-regional, and regional cooperation mechanisms of which either country is a member, including ASEAN, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA).

13. The two Leaders affirmed that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) constitutes the comprehensive legal framework governing all activities in the oceans and seas, as well as ocean cooperation at national, regional, and global levels. Both sides affirmed the need to maintain the universality and integrity of UNCLOS 1982.

Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded lawful economic activities at sea; refraining from the threat or use of force; resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Charter and UNCLOS 1982; and highlighted the importance of conserving and sustainably using oceans and marine resources.

14. Both sides expressed concern over the complex escalation of conflicts in several regions around the world, which severely threatens civilian lives and safety, as well as regional and global peace and stability. Both sides called for intensified efforts to negotiate and resolve differences through peaceful means on the basis of international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-use or threat of force in international relations.

15. The two Leaders expressed satisfaction with the significant outcomes of the official visit to Viet Nam by President José Raúl Mulino Quintero, expressing their confidence that the visit will open a new phase of development in Viet Nam - Panama relations, making them more substantive, effective, comprehensive, and sustainable to serve the interests of both peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in both regions and the world at large.

16. President José Raúl Mulino Quintero expressed profound gratitude to General Secretary and President To Lam for the warm and hospitable reception accorded to the high-level Panamanian delegation during the visit, and cordially invited General Secretary and President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung to pay an official visit to Panama at an early date. The Vietnamese Leaders accepted the invitation with pleasure, agreeing that the timing of the visit would be arranged through diplomatic channels./.