Vietnam wants to develop its friendship and cooperation with Haiti in all aspects in order to serve the development of both countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement during talks with his counterpart from the Republic of Haiti, Laurent Salvador Lamothe, in Hanoi on December 17.

At the talks, Dung applauded the four-day visit, which is the first to Vietnam by a high-ranking Haitian leader. He said it creates momentum for strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He spoke highly of Haiti’s achievements in maintaining political stability, socio-economic development and the expansion of foreign relations, and admired the Haitian Government and people’s efforts to overcome the aftermaths of the 2010 earthquake.

Lamothe praised the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national independence, freedom and reunification, and thanked Vietnam for its valuable assistance to Haiti after the earthquake.

He affirmed Haiti ’s interest to develop cooperation with Vietnam in food security, telecommunications, trade, culture and education.

The two leaders exchanged views on measures to strengthen development cooperation between Vietnam and Haiti in the coming time, including the increase of all-level delegation exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding and trust, as well as promoting cooperation in prospective areas such as trade, telecommunications, agriculture and construction.

They agreed to make use of the flexible mechanisms to boost cooperation in science-technology, education, health, food security and poverty reduction.

The PMs pledged to discuss the establishment of a long-term strategic partnership on food security.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the establishment of favourable legal mechanisms and frameworks for bilateral ties, and begin negotiations for agreements on framework cooperation, investment promotion and protection, food security and agricultural cooperation, culture-sports-tourism, and visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

They vowed to encourage and create favourable conditions for business and investment cooperation between both countries’ organisations and firms on an equal and mutually beneficial basis and in accord with each country’s law.

The two leaders highly valued the operation of NATCOM, a joint venture between Vietnam ’s Military Telecoms Group (Viettel) and Haiti ’s Ministry of Economy and Finance. They noted that the model should be expanded to other fields.

They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern, agreeing to cooperate and support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums for peace, stability and development in the two regions and the world.

Lamothe voiced his support for ASEAN countries’ determination to maintain a peaceful and stable environment, and settle East Sea disputes through peaceful negotiations on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, Lamothe invited Dung to pay an official visit to Haiti , which he accepted with pleasure.

Following the talks, both PMs signed a Vietnam-Haiti Joint Communiqué and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a strategic investment partnership between Viettel and the Haiti Government.

Later, the two leaders met with the media to announce the outcomes of their talks.-VNA