After more than half a century of establishing diplomatic relations (1975 - 2025), Vietnam and Panama are facing new opportunities to deepen their bilateral cooperation.
During the official visit of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino to Vietnam, a VNA reporter in Mexico interviewed the Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico and Panama, Nguyen Van Hai, about the significance of this event, as well as key solutions to transform the potential for cooperation between the two countries into concrete programs, projects, and results.
Ambassador, more than half a century after Vietnam and Panama established diplomatic relations, the two countries are facing new opportunities to deepen bilateral relations. What is the significance of President José Raúl Mulino's official visit to Vietnam in that process? From your perspective, what are the important outcomes that this visit can produce to transform Vietnam-Panama relations from a foundation of traditional friendship to a more substantive and effective cooperative relationship in the coming years?
Ambassador Nguyen Van Hai: The upcoming visit of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino to Vietnam is of particular importance to the development of Vietnam-Panama relations.
This is the highest-level exchange between the two countries in nearly 15 years, since the visit of Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli to Vietnam in 2012, and it also takes place immediately after the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1975 - 2025).
Over the past half-century, geographical distance has not prevented the two countries from maintaining good friendly relations, gradually expanding cooperation in many fields, coordinating closely and supporting each other in multilateral forums.
Prior to the visit, the two sides successfully held a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Philippines (July 24, 2026) and the Second Political Consultative Meeting in Vietnam at the end of July 2026.
This shows that both countries attach great importance to and have prepared very carefully for the visit, with the goal of bringing bilateral relations to a new, more substantive and effective stage of development.
In my opinion, the visit could make progress in three main areas: Firstly, it could create more political momentum at the highest level to transform the potential and directions agreed upon by both sides into programs and action plans with specific projects and results.
Secondly, we will strengthen cooperation in economics , trade, and investment across various sectors such as agriculture, banking, telecommunications, infrastructure, maritime transport, education and training, as well as other potential areas. Thirdly, the cooperation documents expected to be signed during the visit will create a solid legal basis for the two countries' relationship to deepen and develop stably.
It is crucial that following the visit, the relevant authorities of both sides quickly begin implementing and concretizing the agreements and initiatives agreed upon by the high-level leaders; while continuing to effectively utilize existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Political Consultations and the Joint Committee on Economy, Trade and Investment.
This forms the basis for the visit to go beyond mere political and symbolic significance, truly becoming the beginning of a new, deeper, and more substantive phase of cooperation.
- Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Panama has increased significantly over the past decade, but its current scale is considered to be still not commensurate with the potential of the two economies. Panama has a unique location with the Panama Canal, its port and logistics system, and the Colón Free Trade Zone, while Vietnam has strengths in manufacturing and exporting many product groups that are competitive in the international market. According to the Ambassador, what should the two countries do to transform these complementary advantages into new drivers of trade and investment growth? Can Panama truly become a "gateway" for Vietnamese goods to access the Latin American market more deeply, while Vietnam acts as a bridge for Panamanian businesses to expand into ASEAN and Southeast Asia?
Ambassador Nguyen Van Hai: Strengthening economic and trade cooperation by leveraging complementary strengths, including making good use of each other's geographical locations, is one of the pillars that will help Vietnam-Panama relations shift strongly towards substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Vietnam possesses increasingly outstanding production, processing, and export capabilities, coupled with a highly open economy, and is ready to support Panamanian businesses in connecting with the ASEAN region as well as the Asia-Pacific.
Conversely, Panama possesses a unique geostrategic location with a system of seaports, the Panama Canal, a logistics hub, and leading international trade services in the region and the world .
According to data from the Vietnam Customs Department, bilateral trade between the two countries is projected to reach US$478.1 million in 2025, an increase of 19.2% compared to 2024. Of this, Vietnam will export US$462.6 million to Panama and import US$15.5 million.
Vietnam's main export product groups include footwear, telephones and components, computers and electronic products, textiles, transportation vehicles and parts, and seafood. Vietnam imports wood and wood products, seafood, and some raw materials from Panama.
However, bilateral trade currently accounts for less than 0.1% of Vietnam's total trade turnover and only about 3% of Panama's total trade turnover in 2025.
These figures reflect that bilateral trade has already established a certain foundation, but there is still much room to increase its scale and diversify its trade structure.
Notably, Panama is not only a potential market but also a crucial "gateway," transit point, and distribution hub for Vietnamese businesses expanding into the Latin American and Caribbean region.
The Panama Canal connects to over 180 shipping routes, approximately 170 countries, and 1,900 seaports worldwide. The Colón Free Trade Zone is one of Latin America's leading free trade centers, with a vast network of businesses, logistics infrastructure, warehousing, and re-export operations.
To realize these potentials, both sides need to strengthen direct connections between businesses, thoroughly research the needs and regulations of each market, promote trade and customs facilitation, establish common standards, and form long-term distribution partnerships.
Regularly organizing trade promotion delegations, business forums, and investment networking events will play a key role in boosting bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation in the coming period.
-The Vietnam-Panama relationship should not only be built through government- level visits and contacts, but also needs to be expanded to include parliamentary diplomacy, local cooperation, social organizations, and the business community. According to the Ambassador, what are the priority mechanisms and areas to strengthen these channels of connection? Given that both countries value multilateral cooperation, how can Vietnam and Panama play their roles at the United Nations, regional forums, and in strengthening connectivity between ASEAN and Latin America and the Caribbean?
Ambassador Nguyen Van Hai: After 50 years, Vietnam and Panama have gradually built a solid political and diplomatic foundation based on shared values such as respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, adherence to the United Nations Charter and international law, and a love for peace, freedom, social progress, and justice.
In the future, both sides need to further deepen that foundation through strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, cultural exchanges, and connections between localities and businesses. This will both create a solid social base and mobilize a wide range of stakeholders to directly participate in promoting bilateral relations.
Regarding parliamentary diplomacy, both sides need to promote exchanges of parliamentary leaders and specialized committees, and enhance the sharing of legislative experience in areas of mutual interest such as maritime economy, logistics, trade, cybersecurity, digital transformation, tourism, education, gender equality, environment, and sustainable development.
In particular, both sides need to establish bilateral parliamentary friendship groups as soon as possible to serve as a bridge for information exchange and to work together with the government, localities, and businesses.
Regarding local exchanges, the two countries can promote connections between localities with similar or complementary strengths in the fields of logistics, seaports, agriculture, tourism, and education.
Local-level collaborative projects have the advantage of directly addressing specific needs, forming practical projects, and mobilizing the direct participation of people and businesses.
For the business community, both sides need to shift from individual promotional activities to building regular networking connections. Mechanisms such as the Joint Committee on Economy, Trade and Investment need to be utilized more effectively to address specific obstacles, while connecting industry associations, logistics businesses, ports, banks, agriculture, and technology.
Regarding multilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Panama share many similarities in upholding multilateralism, free trade, and the rule of international law.
The two countries need to strengthen cooperation on global issues such as responding to climate change, protecting the environment, ensuring food security, sustainable development, maritime safety, and combating transnational crime.
In addition, both sides need to continue strengthening consultations, coordination, and mutual support at the United Nations; acting as a bridge for each country to expand cooperation with regional organizations such as ASEAN and APEC in the Asia-Pacific region, and CELAC and SICA in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ambassador, although the foundation of friendship has been firmly established over half a century, geographical distance and language differences remain significant obstacles to people-to-people diplomacy. In this new phase, what are the priority areas – from culture, education, language training, tourism, sports to youth exchanges – to enhance mutual understanding and create a sustainable social foundation for bilateral relations?
Ambassador Nguyen Van Hai: People-to-people diplomacy is a core element in maintaining and strengthening the long-lasting friendship between the two nations. Over time, the two countries have gradually built a foundation of understanding through cultural and educational exchanges. Notable examples include the cooperation between the Panamanian Embassy in Vietnam and the Spanish Department (Hanoi University), as well as exhibitions and Vietnam Day events in Panama.
In this new phase, the two countries need to strengthen exchanges of students, lecturers, and researchers; expand scholarship programs; promote the teaching of Spanish in Vietnam; and encourage universities to establish direct partnerships. Young people, when given the opportunity to study and gain experience in another country, will become the most natural bridges for bilateral relations.
Culture is also an important channel for bringing the people of the two countries closer together. Both sides need to organize more frequently Vietnamese Culture Days/Weeks in Panama and events introducing Panamanian culture in Vietnam through cuisine, film, exhibitions, handicrafts, and hands-on experiences.
Tourism is a highly promising sector, as both countries possess rich natural and cultural heritage. The visa exemption agreement for holders of ordinary passports, signed in 2019, provides an important legal foundation.
In the coming period, both sides need to strengthen tourism promotion, advertise destinations, connect travel businesses, and coordinate in developing joint tours, especially ecotourism and community-based tourism.
Overall, the goal of people-to-people diplomacy in the coming period is not just to increase the number of events, but to create more substantive opportunities for people, businesses, and localities of the two countries to meet, interact, and cooperate directly.
When mutual understanding is strengthened, it will provide a solid social foundation for the stable, sustainable, and long-term development of Vietnam-Panama relations.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/co-hoi-moi-dua-quan-he-viet-nam-panama-di-vao-chieu-sau-thuc-chat-va-hieu-qua-post1139891.vnp
